Our Donors

MSU Billings is thankful for the continuing support and generosity of our loyal alumni, friends, and community partners. More than 85% of MSU Billings students receive some type of financial assistance. Scholarship support allows MSU Billings to make sure deserving scholars have the opportunity to reach their full potential, regardless of economic circumstances. We invite you to meet some of our valued donors and let their stories inspire you.

If you want to change lives in an extraordinary way, make a gift to the MSU Billings Foundation.

John W. and Carol L.H. Green

John W. and Carol L.H. Green

John and Carol Green established the John W. and Carol L. H. Green Scholarship Endowment in 2011 during the Opportunity Campaign for Student Scholarships. The first scholarship was awarded academic year 2017-2018. John received this Ph.D. in physical chemistry in...

John Weinschrott Endowed Scholarships

John Weinschrott Endowed Scholarships

The John Weinschrott Memorial Endowed Scholarship was established in 1983 by Mrs. Mary Muth in memory of her father, John Weinschrott. Mr. Weinschrott had a strong commitment to higher education and as a legislator was instrumental in establishing Eastern Montana...

Jolene Staton Memorial Scholarship

Jolene Staton Memorial Scholarship

In 1988, Alpha Delta Kappa Zeta established the Alpha Delta Kappa Zeta Scholarship at Eastern Montana College (now MSU Billings) to support women entering an education career. In 2010 the scholarship was re-named the Jolene Staton Memorial Scholarship in memory of...

Jorgen Egeland Memorial Endowed Scholarship

Jorgen Egeland Memorial Endowed Scholarship

Jorgen was the only child of John and Karen Egeland who homesteaded in the Reserve area of Sheridan County, Montana, in 1906. Karen, his mother, died when Jorgen was five years old so he grew up as his father’s companion and was the “apple of his eye.” He graduated...

Joy and James Mariska

Joy and James Mariska

Joy and James Mariska are both Army veterans. Joy served three years active duty during the Vietnam era. James served a combined 34 years on active duty and in the Army Reserve, during a time span from Vietnam to the Iraq wars, retiring with the rank of Colonel....

Julie L. Coleman College of Business Endowed Scholarship

Julie L. Coleman College of Business Endowed Scholarship

From her start as a young Jewish girl in Chicago, Illinois, to her retirement as one of Montana’s most successful stock brokers, Julie Coleman’s life charted an up-and-down course. With intelligence, determination, and chutzpah, Julie risked failure and rejection...

Karen Frank and Family Scholarship

Karen Frank and Family Scholarship

Karen Frank established the Karen Frank and Family Scholarship in 2013 to support the Opportunity Campaign for MSU Billings Student Scholarships. Karen’s generosity provides scholarship assistance to non-traditional female students at MSU Billings. The first...

Karen M. Vaughan Memorial Endowed Scholarship

Karen M. Vaughan Memorial Endowed Scholarship

Karen Marie Vaughan, daughter of Ernie and Carol Kemmis, was born on April 26, 1971, in Billings, Montana. Karen was always an extremely bright student, attending Billings’ schools and graduating with honors from MSU Billings in May 2001 with a Bachelor of Arts in...

Kassandra Thompson-Christopherson Endowed Scholarship

Kassandra Thompson-Christopherson Endowed Scholarship

Kassandra Nicole Thompson-Christopherson was born December 3, 1990, in Billings, Montana. She attended Billings Senior High School, obtained her GED, and was planning to start college at MSU Billings in the fall of 2008. Kassie’s life was shortened by a tragic...

Katharine L. Morningstar Non-Traditional Endowed Scholarships

Katharine L. Morningstar Non-Traditional Endowed Scholarships

Katharine L. Morningstar lived in Germany when the Nazis came to power and later became a school teacher. She has endowed scholarships at many universities around the country. In 1987 Eastern Montana College (now MSU Billings) received a distribution from the...

Katharine L. Morningstar Traditional Endowed Scholarships

Katharine L. Morningstar Traditional Endowed Scholarships

Katharine L. Morningstar lived in Germany when the Nazis came to power and later became a school teacher. She has endowed scholarships at many universities around the country. In 1987 Eastern Montana College (now MSU Billings) received a distribution from the...

Kathryn A. Carpenter Endowed Scholarship in English

Kathryn A. Carpenter Endowed Scholarship in English

The Kathryn A. Carpenter Scholarship in English Endowment was established in 1994 to honor Mrs. Kathryn Carpenter, wife of Eastern Montana College (now MSU Billings) former president Dr. Bruce Carpenter. Contributions to the fund came from family and friends of...

Kathryn K. Ries “Never Too Late” Memorial Scholarships

Kathryn K. Ries “Never Too Late” Memorial Scholarships

Kathryn Eileen Kelly Ries (Feb. 26, 1949 — May 9, 2017) was a non-traditional student who earned her BS in Accounting from Montana State University Billings in 1996. Katy entered the workforce immediately following graduation from Billings Central Catholic High...

Kenneth and Judith Miller Endowed Scholarship

Kenneth and Judith Miller Endowed Scholarship

Dr. Ken Miller doesn’t take teaching lightly. After having been involved in the teaching world for over 30 years, his primary focus has not changed from that of day one: “It is my responsibility to not only maintain an atmosphere in which learning is possible, but...

Kenneth W. and Lena Heikes Family

Kenneth W. and Lena Heikes Family

Ken and Lena Heikes have called Billings, Montana, home since moving from Pocatello, Idaho, in 1966. Ken served as Chief Financial Office at MSU Billings in a career that spanned 26 years. Following retirement from the University, he served as Planned Giving Officer...

Krystal and Franklin H. Noble Endowed Scholarship

Krystal and Franklin H. Noble Endowed Scholarship

Krystal Lashea Noble graduated in the Senior Class of 2007 at age 18 from Flathead High School in Kalispell, Montana, and was planning to attend MSU Billings fall semester 2007. She was a member of the Flathead Varsity Women’s Choir, Business Professionals of...

Langlas and Associates, Inc. Carpentry Scholarships

Langlas and Associates, Inc. Carpentry Scholarships

Langlas and Associates, Inc. was established in 1973. With offices in Billings and Bozeman, Montana, they have performed work throughout Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, North Dakota, Iowa, and California. Langlas and Associates, Inc. has over 39 years of experience as a...

League of Women Voters of Billings

League of Women Voters of Billings

The League of Women Voters of Billings serves the people of south-central Montana. Throughout the year, the League of Women Voters of Billings registers voters at naturalization ceremonies, community events, through the high schools to reach newly eligible voters,...

Lesley Sherman Memorial Scholarship

Lesley Sherman Memorial Scholarship

Lesley Sherman was an employee of Billings Vocational-Technical Center and a student. She died in a car accident in March 1993. A memorial fund was established that year to provide scholarship support to current City College students. Lesley’s grandparents, Piet and...

Lester and Cora Engdahl Memorial Endowed Scholarship

Lester and Cora Engdahl Memorial Endowed Scholarship

Lester Engdahl lived on his families homestead located on Hell Creek in Garfield County, Montana. At an early age, he began “riding the Montana range” he loved, working in cow camps, lambing, and breaking horses. Cora Forcier attended high school in Broadus, Montana,...

Linda Bliler Memorial Endowed Scholarship

Linda Bliler Memorial Endowed Scholarship

Linda G. Bliler was born July 24, 1927, in Helena, Montana. Her early years were spent in Clyde Park, Wilsall, and Livingston. After she received her B.S. from Montana State University in Bozeman, she moved to the warmth and sunny beaches of southern California where...

L. R. Gajewski Endowed Scholarship

L. R. Gajewski Endowed Scholarship

Naomi Gajewski established the L.R. Gajewski Scholarship Endowment in 2003 in memory of her late husband and in honor of her daughter, Lorna, who graduated from MSU Billings in 1998 with a B.A. in Music. Through Naomi’s generosity, upper division music majors will...

Lulu Mae Clay Nursing Scholarship

Lulu Mae Clay Nursing Scholarship

In her will, Lulu Mae Clay left a portion of her estate to the Billings Vo-Tech Center, now Montana State University Billings City College. From her gift the Lulu Mae Clay Nursing Scholarship endowment fund was established in 1981.

Marguerite Hunt City College Undergraduate Endowed Scholarship

Marguerite Hunt City College Undergraduate Endowed Scholarship

Marguerite R. Risvold Hunt was born November 17, 1906, on her parent’s ranch seven miles from Absarokee, Montana, by the Stillwater River. She graduated from Absarokee High School in 1924. Beginning May 1924, she was continually employed by the U.S. Bureau of...

Marilynn A. Sexton Endowed Scholarship

Marilynn A. Sexton Endowed Scholarship

Marilynn Sheard graduated from Eastern Montana College (now MSU Billings) in 1960 with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in English Education. While attending EMC, she met Ron Sexton, whom she married in 1961. Marilynn taught high school English for many years and was a...

Marilynn F. Miller Opportunity Endowed Scholarship

Marilynn F. Miller Opportunity Endowed Scholarship

Marilynn Miller was born and raised in Havre, Montana. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education with an extended English major from Northern Montana College (now MSU Northern), paying her tuition with the help of scholarships. She subsequently...

Marjorie and Spencer Lauson Endowed Scholarship

Marjorie and Spencer Lauson Endowed Scholarship

The Marjorie and Spencer Lauson Endowed Scholarship was established October 2003 by Dr. Marjorie Lauson. Education was her passion and she had a deep love for children. Whether she was the teacher or the student, Marjorie always excelled and never let a challenge...

Mary Maxon Stratford Education Endowed Scholarship

Mary Maxon Stratford Education Endowed Scholarship

The Mary Maxon Stratford Education Scholarship fund was established in March 2002 by Scott Stratford in honor of his mother, Mary. Mary grew up in Billings and attended Eastern Montana Normal School (now MSU Billings) where she earned her teaching certificate....

Mathematics Department

Mathematics Department

The faculty of the department of mathematics at MSU Billings established the Math Faculty Scholarship Endowment in 2006 to provide financial assistance to students majoring in mathematics at MSU Billings. The mathematics major is designed to include students with a...

Matz Properties, LLC Endowed Scholarship

Matz Properties, LLC Endowed Scholarship

Mike and Joan Matz have shown their support for MSU Billings in a variety of ways. Both Joan and Mike were active in the MSU Billings Alumni Golf Tournament and have been supportive of the MSU Billings Foundation Wine and Food Festival. Mike and Joan retired from...