January 2026 News
UMW ALUMNA MADELINE BRADBURY ACCEPTED TO MEDICAL SCHOOL
Madeline Bradbury, Class of 2025, has been accepted into both the Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine and the University of Washington School of Medicine. She has chosen to begin her medical training at UW in July 2026 and is interested in pursuing OB-GYN/maternal-fetal medicine, emergency medicine, or surgery (possibly trauma, orthopedics, or plastic surgery), while remaining open to other specialties.
COMMUNITY INVITED TO ATTEND TEDX UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA WESTERN ON MARCH 21
Community members are invited to take part in a full day of ideas, conversation, and connection at TEDx University of Montana Western, to be held Saturday, March 21, 2026, on the University of Montana Western campus. Designed with rural communities in mind, the event will explore how resilience can be built around complex and challenging topics through talks, workshops, and shared experiences. Attendance is open to the public, with tickets available while space allows.
IOLA “OLIE” ELSE CHOSEN AS MCHF 2026 SADDLE OF HONOR RECIPIENT
The University of Montana Western is proud to announce that Iola “Olie” Else has been selected as the 2026 Saddle of Honor Recipient by the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame (MCHF). Else will be honored on February 14, 2026, during the MCHF Induction Ceremony in Great Falls, Montana, where she will receive a bronze sculpture of Charlie Russell’s saddle created by artist Jay Contway.
MONTANA WESTERN FINE ARTS GALLERY PRESENTS “WHERE THINGS SETTLE: THE SPACE OF BECOMING”
The University of Montana Western Fine Arts Gallery is honored to present “Where Things Settle: The Space of Becoming” by UMW Students Lacey Boots, Samantha Carr, Emily Hansen, Racheal Hanson, Emilee Malcomb, and Granville Parham. The exhibition will open on Thursday, January 29, and will feature a gallery reception from 5:00–7:00 p.m. in the Fine Arts Gallery, located in Main Hall.
UMW’S “ON THE ROCKS” SERIES TO HOST SPEAKERS CAM CARSTARPHEN AND MATHEW SMITH
The University of Montana Western’s Environmental Science Department is excited to host Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology (MBMG) hydrogeologists Cam Carstarphen and Mathew Smith as part of the “On the Rocks” lecture series. Carstarphen and Smith will present “Using Geochemistry to Answer Natural Resource Questions” on Wednesday, January 21, at 4:00 p.m. in UMW’s Lucy Carson Library.
MONTANA WESTERN PRESENTS MISSOULA CHILDREN’S THEATRE “THE SECRET GARDEN”
The University of Montana Western’s Fine Arts Department and the Bank of Commerce Performing Arts Series are excited to welcome the Missoula Children’s Theatre production of “The Secret Garden” on Saturday, January 31, 2025, in Beier Auditorium.
UMW TO HOST FOURTH ANNUAL BRAINFEST MATHEMATICAL MODELING COMPETITION
The University of Montana Western Department of Mathematics invites all interested high school students to participate in BrainFest, a mathematical modeling competition, on Friday, February 6, 2026, at the University of Montana Western campus. Participants will have the chance to win a $500 or $250 scholarship to UMW.
MONTANA WESTERN HOSTS FAFSA AND SCHOLARSHIP WORKSHOPS
The University of Montana Western Financial Aid Office invites all interested area high school seniors, community members, and UMW students to attend a free FAFSA Completion and Scholarship Workshop at the Lucy Carson Library on the Montana Western campus this January.
UMW AND MCH HOST 2026 COLT CHALLENGE & SALE
The annual Colt Challenge and Sale, hosted by the University of Montana Western and the Montana Center for Horsemanship, will take place March 27–28, 2026, at the Montana Center for Horsemanship in Dillon, Montana.
MONTANA WESTERN NAMES STUDENTS TO 2025 FALL SEMESTER DEAN’S LIST
The University of Montana Western is proud to announce that 524 students have been named to the Dean’s List for the 2025 fall semester.
MONTANA WESTERN HIP CLUB DONATES “MEALS IN A BAG” TO THE WOMEN’S RESOURCE CENTER
The University of Montana Western’s HIP Club (Humans in Performance), advised by Dr. Megan Chilson and Mr. Mikel Griffiths, donated 80 “Meals in a Bag” to the Women’s Resource Center to support survivors of domestic and sexual violence and their families during the holiday season.