June 2007
English Professor to Evaluate Advance Placement Exams
Tuesday, June 26 2007
Dr. Bethany Blankenship, an associate professor of English at the University of Montana Western, was selected to participate in the annual Reading and Scoring of the College Board’s AP (Advanced Placement) Examinations this month.
Each year the AP program, sponsored by the College Board, gives more than one million capable high school students an opportunity to take rigorous college-level courses and examinations. Based on the results of the exams, students may receive credit and/or advanced placement when they enter college.
Over 8,000 Readers from universities and high schools evaluate approximately 2.3 million examinations in 20 disciplines. Representing many of the finest academic institutions in the world, these men and women are some of the best high school and college educators in the United States, Canada and abroad.
The AP Reading is a unique forum in which academic dialogue between secondary school and college educators is fostered and strongly encouraged.
“The Reading draws upon the talents of some of the finest teachers and professors that the world has to offer,” said Trevor Packer, Executive Director of the Advanced Placement Program at the College Board. “It fosters professionalism, allows for the exchange of ideas and strengthens the commitment to students and to teaching. We are grateful for the contributions of talented educators like Dr. Blankenship.”
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"Red Storm" Dance Team to Debut in Fall
Monday, June 25 2007
Mark Durham, University of Montana Western athletic director, announced the formation of the Red Storm dance team.
Dillon dance instructor, Hillary Hansen is the team’s director and choreographer.
"I think Hilary is going to bring a lot of energy and enthusiasm to our newly created dance team,” said Durham. “This is an area that is becoming more and more popular around the country and we want to add some new excitement to our home game environment."
Hansen is a 1999 graduate of the University of Texas with a degree in advertising/communications.
She has over 15 years of dance training and seven years of cheerleader training. Hansen danced competitively on local and national levels as a member of a Texas dance team and with a small group ensemble. She won her first national title at the age of 10.
In high school, she was selected to an all-star competitive cheer squad in Houston, Texas. The Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) for their annual appearance in the London, England, and mayoral parade also selected Hansen.
Hansen’s dance background includes professional training in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, modern, hip-hop, Pointe, and character. Her cheer background includes cheer technique, cheer dance, jumps, and gymnastics.
She is the owner/instructor of Hillary Hansen’s School of Dance in Dillon, Mont. She is married to area rancher Jon Hansen. They are the parents of Savannah, age five and Brock, age three.
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Booster Club Golf Tournament A Hit
Monday, June 25 2007
'Revised Story'
The 15th the University of Montana Western Bulldog Booster Club golf tournament was held Saturday, June 23 and Sunday, June 24 at Dillon’s Beaverhead Golf Course.
The weekend was the perfect combination of friends of Montana Western, delicious food, beautiful Big Sky weather, and two fun days on the golf course.
The weekend’s activities got underway Saturday afternoon with a Derby Tournament for the early arriving golfers.
Saturday night everyone was treated to a mouth-watering barbeque prepared by Richie Meine and his staff from the Lion’s Den. Everyone in attendance dined on a mouth-watering menu of beef, turkey, ham, salads and desserts.
On Sunday, five-person teams of golfers were divided into four different flights depending on handicap. The play was an 18-hole best ball tournament. Here are the winners:
Phil Mickelson Flight:
Low Gross: Lee Pelletier, Nick Stanisich, Marco Stanisich, Ken Peters, Syndnee Crosser (54.2)
Low Net: Steve DiGiavanni, Ralph Hamler, Jimmy Plutt, David Schultz, Dave Whitesell (51.6)
Jack Nicklas Flight:
Low Gross: Keith Handlos, Jason Truman, Mike Halverson, Kasey Briggs, Ryan Bramlette (52.4)
Low Net: Max Neild, Rick Neild, Dick Newton, Ken Smith, Mike Crosser (51.6)
Arnold Palmer Flight:
Low Gross: Tom Welch, Ted Stanisich, Jim Huber, Jim Schuler, Dennis Hatfield (50)
Low Net: Mark Winnings, Teri Winnings, Chuck Parsons, Charlie Lansing, Mike Schmidt (48.2)
Tiger Woods Flight:
Low Gross: Wally Kawanee, Irene Kawanee, Jeff Bowman, Marty Mull, Pohai Lee (51.8)
Low Net: Debbie Creger, Doug Creger, Wally Feldt, Meg Lewis, Rod Siring (48.2))
In addition to cash prizes for net and gross scores, there were prizes for:
Most Accurate Drive: Sydnee Crosser
Longest Drive: Matt Doner
Shortest Drive: Mike Schmidt
Longest Putt: Jeff Bowman
Closest to the Pin: Kevin Engellant
Big Sky Motors and Dillon Implement donated vehicles for ‘hole-in-one’ prizes but this year, like in previous years, the golf course won, and no one in the field could hit that perfect ‘hole-in-one’ shot!
The event is one of the more successful fund-raising events for Bulldog athletics. Profits benefit all sports in the Montana Western athletic department.
It was a fun weekend for all, and for all, a good chance to renew old friendships. The 2007 Booster Club Tournament is scheduled for June 28-29, 2008.
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Gallery Exhibit Celebrates The Beauty of Nature
Monday, June 18 2007
Suzanne Shope is the featured artist in a new exhibit at The University of Montana Western Art Gallery/Museum. Her exhibit will continue through July 27.
There will be a reception in the Art Gallery for Ms. Shope on Tuesday, June 26 at 6:30 p.m.
The exhibit communicates Shope's love affair with the intimacies of nature. Her paintings focus on Montana grasses, flowers, and landscapes.
Shope's exhibit includes both oil and watercolor paintings. Many of the paintings were completed outside on location, an approach called Plein Air. Some of the oils have thick applications of paint, making them textural as well as colorful.
Nature is clearly Ms. Shope's inspiration. Her paintings experiment with nature's colors and shapes. Some paintings include gold paint, enhancing their spiritual connotations.
"Walking into this exhibit is like walking into someone's private garden," says Gallery Director Randy Horst. "The wonderful colors in these paintings are representative of nature, but also cultivated, just like someone does by carefully selecting their plants and their locations within their garden. The exhibit is a meditative experience, just as walking through a garden can be."
Suzanne Shope grew up around Boulder, Mont. and is the granddaughter of well known Western artist Irvin "Shorty" Shope.
The Art Gallery/Museum also includes the Seidensticker Wildlife Collection of trophy mounts and a permanent art collection including works by Russell and Paxson.
Regularly scheduled gallery hours are Mondays through Fridays from 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. and the gallery is always free. To arrange for special times or visits call the director at 683-7232.
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Booster Club Golf Tournament Set For June 23-24
Monday, June 18 2007
The 15th Annual University of Montana Western Booster Club Benefit Golf Tournament is Saturday, June 23 and Sunday, June 24, 2007 at the Beaverhead Golf Course in Dillon, Mont.
There are still openings for either individuals or teams.
This year’s corporate sponsors are Big Sky Motors, Golf USA/Mark’s Golf Cars and Well Fargo Capital Management.
The weekend gets underway on Saturday with the Beaverhead Golf Course Jackpot Tourney from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. There is a $25 fee per person for this optional event. The fee includes 18 holes of golf, lunch and beverages.
The activities continue with the dinner and team auction Saturday evening. A hosted reception begins at 6 p.m. followed by dinner and the team auction at 7 p.m.
Half the tournament field will tee off Sunday at 8 a.m. and the remaining half at 1 p.m. The Driving Range opens for the morning field at 7 a.m. and at Noon for the afternoon field. Team captains meet at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. for a review of the tournament rules.
The first place cash prize is $625, a second place is $400, third place is $250 and fourth place is $100.
In addition to the cash prizes, there will be prizes for Most Accurate Drive, Shortest Drive, Longest Drive, Longest Putt, and Closest to the Pin.
The Hole-in One-Prizes are a 2007 vehicle from Big Sky Motors of Dillon and a Kawasaki 4x4 ATV from Dillon Implement of Dillon.
Cost of the tournament is $125 per player and that includes green fees, driving range, refreshments, dinner on Saturday night and lunch on Sunday afternoon. The Jackpot Tourney on Saturday is an optional event.
Call 406-683-7220 or 406-683-7509 for complete information or to reserve your ticket.
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