C. Rockne Copple Endowed Scholarship

Known by many as simply “Rock,” Dr. C. Rockne Copple had a distinguished career in higher education of 38 years, including nearly 30 at Eastern Montana College (now MSU Billings). He served his profession of counselor of education in a variety of leadership roles at the national, state and local levels and lectured on the international stage. During his tenure at MSU Billings, he wrote a grant that funded the development of the state’s first elementary counselor education program and initiated the graduate program in Personnel and Guidance, functioning as academic and thesis advisor to scores of graduate students who were preparing to be counselors. As a licensed psychologist, he also helped provide direct psychological services to rural school districts that needed help with counseling because of limited resources. Dr. Copple was presented with the title of faculty emeritus in Health and Human Services in 1993, and in 2001 started a scholarship for graduate students in his name. Dr. Copple passed away on December 25, 2010, at age 79. He was yet another example of the how the passion and commitment of MSU Billings faculty not only transform lives while they are in the classroom, but continue their legacy in later years. The first scholarship from the endowment was awarded in academic year 2002-2003.