Bear Briefs

Montana Economy 101—“The New ICE Age: Investing in a Competitive, Educated Workforce” is the theme of the 33rd Annual Montana Economic Outlook Seminar. Sponsored by UM’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research, this year’s seminar will feature Montana Commissioner of Higher Education Sheila Stearns. Seminars will be held in Missoula, Jan. 25; Helena, Jan. 29; Great Falls, Jan. 30; Billings, Feb. 5; Bozeman, Feb. 6; Butte, Feb. 7; Kalispell, Feb. 12; Lewistown, March 11; and Havre, March 12. For information or to register, visit http://www.bber.umt.edu or call 406-243-5113.

Law Students Advance—For an unprecedented 10th year in a row, a UM School of Law team has advanced to the final rounds of the National Moot Court Competition. Montana’s Erica Grinde, Sabrina Hansen and Angela Wetzsteon will join 27 other teams in late January at the national competition in New York City. The team advanced after finishing second in the Northwest regional competition at Seattle University. UM’s 10-year streak of advancing to the finals is by far the longest of any law school in the country. During that time, UM teams have finished first in the region five times and won the award for the region’s top appellate brief five times. Montana has won the national championship twice, most recently in 2000.

Journalism a Juggernaut—UM’s journalism school is in first place after two rounds of the Intercollegiate Writing Competition, part of the national Hearst Journalism Awards Program. UM has accumulated the highest student points during the first two writing competitions of the academic year — feature writing and editorial/opinion writing. In the second round, editorial/opinion writing, UM journalism senior Emma Schmautz placed fifth and earned a $600 scholarship. Danny Davis, a 2007 UM graduate, placed ninth and received a $500 scholarship. In feature writing results announced in December, 2007 graduate Jacob Baynham won fourth place and a $750 scholarship.

Theatre Turns 40—The Montana Repertory Theatre — UM’s professional theatre-in-residence — will celebrate its 40th birthday with a Jan. 26 celebration. The event is a tribute to MRT founder, Firman (Bo) Brown. The theatre is the oldest national touring company in the nation. Each year students from UM’s Department of Drama/Dance tour with MRT’s seasoned professionals to learn the art and craft from the ground up. Student scholarships are provided by the theatre for its educational outreach tour, which visits more than 50 Montana communities. For more information, go to http://www.montanarep.org.

Student Standouts—UM students Kelley Orteg and Allie Harrison have been selected to participate in the Next Generation Nonprofit Leaders Program of American Humanics, a national alliance dedicated to educating leaders of nonprofit organizations. Their scholarships provide funding to complete a 300-hour internship, preparing them to enter the nonprofit sector after graduation. Orteg will assist Friends to Youth, an organization that provides counseling services to adolescents and their families. Harrison will serve with United Way of Missoula County, which helps to build a better community in the area of health and human services.

From Science to Solutions—UM’s 2008 Wilderness Issues Lecture Series, “Climate Change: Moving from Science to Solutions,” will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m., the first three Tuesdays of each month, February through April. The lectures are free and open to the public, and most will be in Urey Lecture Hall. To learn information about attending for credit, call the Wilderness Institute at 406-243-5361. For other information call Sarah Potenza at 406-243-6956 or visit http://www.cfc.umt.edu/wi.

New Indian Art—“Impacted Nations,” a traveling exhibition of contemporary American Indian art, will be at UM’s Montana Museum of Art & Culture through Feb. 26. The exhibition is in the Performing Arts and Radio/Television Center galleries. It features 52 works by 44 contemporary American Indian artists that address the conflict between Native people’s relationship to the earth and the political and economic forces that undermine it. For more information, call the museum at 406-243-2019 or go online to http://www.umt.edu/montanamuseum.

Art Appreciation—A noncredit course, “Very Visual: Art Appreciation and Visual Literacy,” will be held at UM from 4 to 6 p.m. Feb. 5, 12 and 19 in University Center Room 326. It costs $26 for those who register by Jan. 31 and $35 thereafter. For more information call the Montana Museum of Art & Culture 406-243-2019 or e-mail museum@umontana.edu.

Teachers Wanted—UM soon will host a seminar on East Asian history and culture for Montana teachers. High school and middle school teachers are invited to apply, and 20 will be selected for the seminar, scheduled for Feb. 1-2, March 7-8 and April 18-19. Teachers will receive course materials, stipends and $200 to purchase curriculum materials for their school libraries. For more information or to apply, call Youngee Cho at 406-243-6311 or e-mail ycho@ntsg.umt.edu.

Pro Bound?—Kroy Biermann, a Griz football defensive end from Hardin, won the 2007 Buck Buchanan Award, given to the top defensive player in the Football Championship Subdivision. Then he was selected to play in the Jan. 12 Hula Bowl in Honolulu, one of several postseason hot spots for pro scouts.