Irene Roberts '37 of Helena was honored as Montana Mother of the Year.  The award is given by American Mothers Inc., a national non-profit organization and goes to respected, devoted mothers who interact in a positive way with family and community.  Irene raised eight children and still found time to launder all the cassocks and linens for the St. Helena Cathedral and volunteer for numerous local organizations.

Gary M. Johnson '70 has been promoted to senior vice president at Yellowstone Bank in Laurel, Mont.  Gary joined the bank in 1983 and has 37 years of data processing experience.

Darrell Kipp '70 of White Sulphur Springs was recipient of the 2005 Montana Governor's Humanities Award.  Kipp is a founder of the Piegan Institute, a Blackfeet language preservation organization, and is a historian, interpreter, scholar, author and film maker.  He also served as chair of the Montana Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Commission and co-chair of the "Confluence of Cultures" national conference on Native Americans and the Lewis & Clark expedition.

Pamela Briggs '72 was promoted to vice president of operations for Stockman Bank's three Billings locations.  She joined Stockman Bank in 2001 handling operations issues and has experience in audit, compliance, personnel and trust.

Russell Rintoul '75 recently joined The Brake Shop at 2211 4th Avenue N. in Billings as an automotive technician.  He has 29 years of experience and was previously the owner of Pineapple's Putt Putt Hut.

Vicki Hayes '76 was a recipient of the 2005 Golden Apple Award by the Billings Education Association.  Vicki is a first grade teacher at Elder Grove School.

Janice Jensen '76 of Billings, Mont. has been promoted to assistant vice president at First Interstate Bank's Indirect Buy Center.  She joined First Interstate in August 2004 and was previously with GMAC.

 Sue Solomon '78 was a recipient of the 2005 Golden Apple Award by the Billings Teachers Association.  Sue is an 8th grade math teacher at Riverside Middle School in Billings.

Debbie Hedrick '79 received the HIV/AIDS Governor's Recognition Award for her outstanding effort in educating and assisting the Billings community to respond to the HIV/Aids crisis in Montana.  Debbie is the community health services director for the Yellowstone City/County Health Department.

Nancy Schieno '80 of Billings, Mont. was recently honored by her employer, xpedx, for outstanding divisional performance at the annual company meeting.

Monica Maristuen '86 is the executive director of the Yellowstone River Parks Association.  She has several years experience with non-profit organizations, most recently as development director at the Montana Rescue Mission in Billings, Mont.

Janice White '86 was recently promoted to Community Banking President of the Gillette, WY market for Wells Fargo Bank.  Most recently she was a Business Banking Manager for Wells Fargo in South Central Idaho.  She has been with Wells Fargo since she graduated from Eastern Montana College in 1986.

Maureen Jurovich '88 has been promoted to assistant vice president of the Shiloh Branch of Yellowstone Bank.  She is also chair of the Billings Housing Authority and is a real estate and consumer lender with Yellowstone Bank.

Kevin Hickok '91 of Bridger, Mont. recently joined the Beartooth Hospital and Health Center board of directors.  K.C. is vice president of the Bank of Bridger, a position he has held for the past nine years.

William G. Paul '91 has been promoted to president of the downtown Billings branch of Yellowstone Bank.  Bill joined Yellowstone Bank in 1997 and has eight years of banking experience.

Doug Mulvaney '92 has joined the Montana Standard in Butte as retail advertising manager.  He was previously with the Billings Gazette as account representative and retail sales supervisor.

Jeff Arbizzani '93 recently attained the Certified Treasury Professional credential from the Association of Financial Professionals.  Jeff is a regional treasury management officer for Wells Fargo Bank in Billings, Mont.

Michelle Burtell '93 recently joined CTA Architects in Billings, Mont. as a drafter.  She has an associate's degree in drafting technology and six years experience.

Lance Johnson '93 was recently elected the 2005 Chef of the Year by the Chefs & Cooks Association of Montana.  Johnson is chef at the Billings Petroleum Club and was previously with Hilands Golf Club.

Pamela Crisp '95 has joined Creative Business Strategies, Inc., in Billings, Mont. as office manager and administrative assistant.

Tyler Elkin '95 has been promoted to senior vice president at Yellowstone Bank.  Ty joined the bank in 1998 and has seven years of banking experience.

Brookney Gondara '95 and '96 received a Doctorate in Education with an emphasis in Community College Leadership from Oregon State University in Corvallis, OR in April 2005. She is the new Division Dean for Social Sciences at Portland Community College in Portland, OR. She has also just been added to the Oregon Indian Council for Post-Secondary Education, a state-wide body reviewing and advancing Indian Education Policy for the state and elected to the governing board for the Oregon Peace Institute. She was welcomed to Portland and honored at the quarterly meeting of Say Hey for new professionals of color in the Portland Metro area and she has been actively engaged in public speaking events and in giving presentations about Northern Cheyenne culture in the Portland area this year with her husband Robbie Gondara, a graduate of Chief Dull Knife College, '04. Both are enrolled Northern Cheyenne tribal members in Montana.

Craig Jensen '95 was recently promoted to bridge/general sales at Roscoe Steel & Culvert Company in Billings, Mont.  Craig was hired as a project estimator in 1996 and in 1999 was promoted to city desk sales.

Jeni Lorash '95 has opened her own CPA firm in Columbus, Mont.  She offers her clients service in tax preparation, personal and business accounting, bookkeeping, payroll services and basic business consultation.  She also has extensive knowledge of the  agricultural business area.

Julie Sullivan '95 has joined Prudential Financial's Pioneer Agency in Billings, Mont. as a financial services associate.  Julie has attained her Life and Health and NASD Series 7 registration.

Lorne Armer '96 has been promoted to assistant vice president of franchisee services at Kampgrounds of America Inc. in Billings, Mont.  He will be responsible for providing KOA's more than 450 franchised campgrounds in North America with assistance in improving their operational, management & training practices as well as training on KOA's dedicated computer software.

Brian Emmons '97 recently joined CTA Architects Engineers in Billings, Mont. as a graphic designer.  Brian has BA in art.

Michael C. Jackson '98 has rejoined Kampgrounds of America as a field service director.  He will oversee several teams of KOA campground advisors traveling North America visiting the more than 450 campgrounds.  Jackson was previously the operations manager of the Yellowstone Park KOA campground.

Donald Norton '98 has joined Engineering Inc. of Billings, Mont. as a CADD technician.  He most recently worked in Baton Rouge, LA.  Donald will be responsible for CADD design for engineering and land surveying projects.

Jason Porch '99 is the manager of the Billings Procurement Technical Assistance Center, part of the Big Sky Economic Development Authority.  He was recently recognized by the National Association of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers as having met the requirements for level two certification as an associate contracting assistance specialist.  Jason assists businesses in the Yellowstone region that are or want to do business with federal, state or local government agencies.

Gilberta Belgarde '00 of Havre, Mont. is the Early Childhood/Parent Coordinator for Stone Child College on the Rocky Boy Reservation.  She is also a Tribal College recruiter for the University of Montana.  Gilberta enjoys traveling, reading, collecting music CD's (all kinds) and books.  She hopes to return to school to earn her master's degree.

Miranda Snow '02 was recently promoted to co-op/events coordinator at the Billings Gazette.  She was previously a customer service representative in the retail advertising department.  Miranda will coordinate co-op advertising services and assist with local events presented by the Gazette.

Alan B. Williams '02, a senior in cell biology and neuroscience at Montana State University in Bozeman, has been awarded the Harold Watling Scholarship for outstanding achievement by a senior pre-medical student at MSU.  Williams graduated from MSU Billings in 2002 with a bachelor's degree in psychology and is finishing his second bachelor's degree at MSU-Bozeman. Williams' $1,500 scholarship will be applied to his medical school expenses.

Vanessa Browning '03 was a recipient of the 2005 Golden Apple Award by the Billings Teachers Association.  Vanessa is an independent living class instructor at Highland Elementary in Billings.

Donna Hjelm '03 was recently hired as a staff consultant in the Billings office of Anderson ZurMuehlen & Co.  She is responsible for tax preparation and general accounting services.  Prior to joining AZ & Company, Donna worked as a tax preparer and donated her time and services to the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program.

Alan Sherbo '03 was recently promoted to vice president of operations at Roscoe Steel & Culvert Company in Billings, Mont.  He joined Roscoe Steel in 1983 as a detailer, was promoted to job manager and then in 1994 to engineering manager.

Dennis Elliott '04 has joined HydroSolutions Inc. in Billings, Mont. as an environmental specialist.  His duties include permitting, GIS analysis and data management for coalbed natural gas development

Kelly McArdle '04 is the new career services coordinator at the University of Montana College of Technology in Helena.  She works with faculty and students to set up job placement and internships as well as informing the public of the school's free job listing service.

Mindy Mendenhall '04 has joined HydroSolutions Inc. in Billings, Mont. as an environmental specialist.  Her duties will focus on groundwater, surface water and characterization pertaining to oil and gas, coalbed methane production and mining.

Pearl Robertson '04 is currently studying and teaching in Shijiazhuang, China while working towards her Masters Degree at New Mexico State University.  She plans to return to NMSU in January 2006 to finish her studies.

Rachel Christoferson '05 has joined the accounting firm of Anderson ZurMuehlen & Co. in Billings as a staff consultant.  While a student at MSUB she was a member of the Sigma Beta Delta International Collegiate Honor Society and president of the Accounting Club.

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