Karen Everett was born and raised in Sheridan, Wyo., and graduated from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn., with a BA in English and from The University of Chicago with an MA in the Humanities. She taught English part-time at the former Eastern Montana College...

In 2010 the Exchange Clubs of Billings brought Montana’s first Healing Field to Billings. The following year, on the 10th anniversary of 9/11, the Exchange Clubs teamed up with MSU Billings to again bring a Healing Field to Billings, aligning with the construction of...

Eakle Barfield has faithfully served MSU Billings for 16 years. In December 2012, Eakle retired from his position as Facility Services Director. As important as his dedication to service is his dedication to education. Eakle knows the struggles — both intellectual...

The purpose of this restricted annual scholarship is to provide encouragement and financial support, up to the student’s cost of attendance, to degree-seeking students who desire an MSU Billings education. Terry and Patt Payne have always been advocates for education...

Florence Steele grew up near Edgar, Montana, where her mother taught school. As a young woman, Florence was among the first graduates of Eastern Montana Normal School (now MSU Billings), graduating in 1931 with a teaching certificate. After graduation she taught for...

Tom Stewart was a lot of things. He was a long-time philanthropist who supported education and the arts; a community activist championing free enterprise over government intervention; and an adventurer visiting the far reaches of the globe. His 40-year career was...

The Foster Family has long connections to Billings and support for Eastern Montana College and MSU Billings. Paul Foster was born in Billings and graduated from Billings Senior High School in 1982 as class valedictorian. He went “back East” to study Russian language...

Frances Scanlan Barker was born in Bozeman, Montana, on August 24, 1909. With her parents, she migrated to a homestead north of Hardin, Montana. She attended country schools and graduated from Hardin High School. Frances attended business school in Denver, Colorado,...

Frank McCarthy was the women’s basketball coach at MSU Billings from 1989-1999. In the ten seasons he coached, he led his teams to 191 wins, four conference championships, five West Regional Appearances, and one NCAA II Elite Eight Appearance. An inspiring...

Fredrick J. Urbaska was a dreamer and a visionary but also a doer who frequently achieved what others considered to be impossible. Fred was passionate about education, or as he liked to phrase it, “Learning how to Learn.” He encouraged young people, his own three...

Gail L. Maryott was born in 1907 on the Maryott Ranch three miles north of Red Lodge, Montana. She attended Eastern Montana Normal School (now MSU Billings) and received her degree in education from the University of Montana. She later earned her master’s degree in...

Elizabeth “Betty” Franzen Gainan was born August 11, 1917, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Her growing-up years were spent in Minnesota and Iowa. In 1935 she moved with her family to Billings, Montana. In 1938, Betty earned her education diploma at Eastern Montana College...

Alpha Delta Kappa is an honorary organization of women educators. The women involved in this organization are dedicated to educational excellence, personal and professional growth, and for collectively channeling their energies toward the good of their schools,...

Geoffrey Arthur Fishbaugh never met a stranger in his 17 years. He collected friends and valued each because of their undivided differences and idiosyncrasies. The youngest of David and Mary Susan Fishbaugh’s four children, Geoff was the heart of his family. He...

Dr. George H. Gloege was a long-term faculty member at Eastern Montana College (now MSU Billings) where he taught chemistry and was a pioneer in the field of conservation education. In his memory in 2002, his son Dr. Randall G. and Mary Beth Gloege established the...

George R. McGrail was born and raised in the Billings, Montana, area. He graduated high school in 1955 from Billings Senior High School. He began his college career at Eastern Montana College (now MSU Billings) in the fall of 1955. After attending two years, he quit...

The General Federation of Women’s Clubs is an international women’s organization dedicated to community improvement by enhancing the lives of others through volunteer service. Founded in 1890, GFWC is one of the world’s largest and oldest women’s volunteer service...

Grace K. Harkins was born December 29, 1929. She began working when she was 14 while paying rent to her parents who had ten children. She was the only sibling in her large family to attain a college degree. As a child, Grace read in the closet to get privacy. Grace...

Greg found his passion for education early on and received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education/special education from MSU Billings (Eastern Montana College). Greg spent 20 years teaching in Special Education at MSU Billings where he loved and was wholly...

Gregg and Marcia Hafner are both strong believers in quality education and the benefits it provides. They obtained their graduate degrees through MSU Billings in the 1980s and 1990s. Marcia taught Special Education students for 30 years. Gregg taught at the...

Joel Guthals developed a relationship with Eastern Montana College (now MSU Billings) when he moved to Billings, Montana, in 1976 to practice law. Initially, he taught business law courses as an adjunct professor. He was impressed with the hardworking students and...

The “Hardy” Kindler Memorial Scholarship Endowment fund was established in December 1986 by Erling Arestad in honor of E. R. “Hardy” Kindler. Mr. Kindler was selected as the state secretary-treasurer for the Farmers Unions in 1921, a job he held for over 14 years. He...

Harfield Hole has lived through most of the challenges the 20th Century threw at the world, including the Great Depression. The lifetime of history, sacrifice, and hard work this man experienced is unfathomable to many people raised in this fast-paced time when so...

Harold Henry Winter was born in 1885 in Quincy, Illinois. He attended the National Business College there and learned the pattern maker’s trade in one of Quincy’s factories. In 1908 he moved to Billings, Montana, where he owned and operated the Winter Hardware...

Lynn and Bernie Harrington thoroughly enjoyed their college experiences at Eastern Montana College (now MSU Billings), both in and out of the classroom. Lynn earned an education degree in 1980; Bernie a business degree in 1984. As a student, Bernie soon became a...

Harry Fitzhugh Lee grew up in the Grand Junction, Colorado, area where he was known affectionately by family and friends as “Willie.” He attended Mesa College and continued his education at the University of Northern Colorado where he earned three education degrees....

Hattie Ula (Brown) Martin was born in Zachary, Louisiana Dec. 30, 1916. Hattie was the fifth of eight children born to John and Hattie Brown. She knew she would not get married right out of high school in 1935—although that was expected of her. She always thought she...

Sandy Wong says a sense of philanthropy was instilled in her as a freshman at Eastern Montana College (now MSU Billings). Sandy was able to graduate from EMC in 1983 almost debt free because of financial aid and scholarships. “I support MSU Billings and help raise...

The William Randolph Hearst Foundation made a grant in 1982 to the Eastern Montana College Foundation (now MSU Billings Foundation) to establish a Hispanic scholarship endowment program. The Hearst Endowment Scholarship fund provides annual scholarships to deserving...

Robert and Priscilla Hector established the Hector Foundation Endowment Fund with the Montana Community Foundation. In 2015, the Hectors recommended the Montana Community Foundation fund a scholarship at MSU Billings to support a student majoring in nursing. The...