Spring 2024 Newsletter
The University of Montana - College of Business
Montana's No. 1 Business School #MontanaMeansBusiness
Dear Friends,
As we bid farewell to another successful spring semester, we reflect on the achievements and milestones that have marked this academic year. This year, we celebrate the graduation of 197 talented undergraduate students and 93 graduate students, each ready to embark on their professional journeys armed with the knowledge and skills gained at the UM College of Business. Our undergraduate students have also completed an impressive 119 internships, showcasing their dedication to real-world experience.
Our graduates faced an especially challenging introduction to college during the pandemic, yet they persevered and demonstrated incredible grit. This resilience has not only shaped their character but also prepared them to thrive in any environment they encounter.
This year was particularly special as we welcomed the inaugural cohort of our cybersecurity major, marking a significant step forward in preparing our students for the evolving digital landscape.
Furthermore, we are thrilled to share that we will be awarding an unprecedented 218 scholarships this fall, surpassing $600,000 in total funds for the first time in our institution's history. The generosity of our donors continues to amaze me, as their support of students creates opportunities that extend far beyond the classroom.
These accomplishments are a testament to the dedication of our students, faculty, alumni, and staff. We look forward to continuing our journey of excellence and empowerment in the semesters to come.
Go Griz!
Suzanne Tilleman, Sprunk and Burnham Endowed Dean
Faculty and Student Awards
The University of Montana College of Business is proud to announce the annual faculty and student awards for the 2023-24 academic year. These awards are a testament to the outstanding achievements and contributions made by individuals in the UM College of Business academic community.
Lockman Honored for Decades of Dedication to VITA Program
At its spring Advisory Board meetings in April, the University of Montana College of Business honored UM alumnus Clem Lockman for his decades of dedication to the students of UM and the Missoula community. Lockman has volunteered his time as the site coordinator for the UM Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) for more than 20 years.
The UM VITA program runs annually every Saturday through the month of February, offering free tax help to those with low to moderate incomes. Each year, 300 to 700 federal income tax returns, and an equal number of state tax returns, are prepared under Lockman’s guidance. This results in total annual refunds to taxpayers in a range of $400,000 to $1 million, which flows back into the local economy.
UM Alum Receives CMA Touring Lifetime Achievement Award
Founding member of the University of Montana Entertainment Management Program (UMEM), Ron Baird, was posthumously honored with the Country Music Association (CMA) Touring Lifetime Achievement Award this February.
The award is given to an individual who has positively impacted and contributed to the growth of touring throughout the years. It honors an individual who has had an unprecedented historical impact on country music fans and the industry alike, and whose presence will have a long-term positive impact on the genre and CMA for generations to come. Baird is one of only six people to have ever received this award.
Rare Rhodes: UM Student Earns World’s Top Scholarship
A University of Montana student who wove connections between the Russian language, business, renewable energy, data and entrepreneurship recently was awarded the oldest and most renowned fellowship in the world.
Kolter Stevenson, of Amsterdam, Montana, and an alumnus of Manhattan High School, is the first UM student in 30 years to receive the Rhodes Scholarship for study at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.
“It’s an honor to represent the State of Montana,” Stevenson said. “I share this award with my entire team who supported me in this journey. I’m still taking in the news.”
He is one of 32 American college students who were named 2024 Rhodes Scholars. Stevenson is the only student from Washington, Montana, Idaho, Oregon, and Alaska to be selected for two-year post-baccalaureate study at one of the world’s most prestigious institutions.
Enrolled in four UM majors and carrying a 4.0 GPA in each one, Stevenson, a UM senior, was celebrated in letters of recommendation from UM faculty for his humble leadership, high intellect, varied interests, and insatiable curiosity related to renewable energy, globalization, languages, culture and data.
He also speaks four languages, including Russian, Norwegian, Spanish and English.
“It’s a gift and a blessing when you’re able to talk to someone in their own language,” Stevenson said. “The cultural learning is just much deeper, and when you can switch to their language, there’s tenfold the understanding.”
Stevenson said he found intellectual rigor and opportunity at UM in the majors of management information systems, finance and international business, with a certificate in big data analytics, each housed in UM’s College of Business.
Transforming Learning Environments Update
In our fall newsletter, we told you about the need to raise funds for a dedicated space in the Gallagher Business Building to collaborate outside-of-the-classroom for the required group work in their upper division courses, practice presentations with their peers, and privately remote interview for an internship or job without the worry of their Wi-Fi signal dropping.
The outpouring of support for this renovation was amazing, and we are excited to announce that we have crossed the finish line on fundraising and begin construction on this exciting and impactful project this summer.
Women in Business
The College of Business is excited to announce an initiative aimed at supporting our students' holistic development, with a special focus on empowering women. Due to the generosity of an anonymous donor, this vital seed money will help facilitate a robust network of professionals and mentors, who can work with our students through networking opportunities with corporate leaders, panel discussions, seminars, conferences, and workshops. Our students will gain invaluable knowledge and a competitive edge, paving the way for successful careers that align with their personal ambitions.
This initiative will be developed over the coming summer months, to be rolled-out during the fall semester.
Director of Gianchetta Student Success Center, College of Business, The University of Montana | Change Agent | DEI | Career Development | Student Success | Internships
9 个月I am excited and energized by all the developments in the College of Business- particularly our initiative to empower female business leaders!