Campus, community leaders honored on Charter Day

UM celebrated its 116th birthday with a noon-hour party and the Charter Day awards ceremony and reception on Feb. 12. The birthday festivities are held each year to honor the University and its dedication to excellence.

Missoula Mayor John Engen attended the Charter Day awards ceremony and presented an official proclamation of University of Montana Day.

During the celebration, UM recognized several campus and community members with Charter Day Awards.

This year’s winners are:

Montana Alumni Award: William Jones, who has practiced law at the Missoula firm Garlington, Lohn & Robinson for 50 years. Jones has earned much recognition in the last half-century as a trial lawyer and was one of 16 who graduated from UM’s law school in 1959.

ASUM Student Service Award: Jessie Davie, ASUM sustainability coordinator. Davie is pursuing a master’s degree in environmental studies and was the main author of UM’s first-ever Greenhouse Gas Inventory.

Neil S. Bucklew Presidential Service Award: James and Joy Mariska of Billings. The Mariskas have been actively involved in a variety of UM and community organizations that better the lives of Montanans. James is a UM business alumnus.

George M. Dennison Presidential Faculty Award for Distinguished Accomplishment: Regents Professor Jakki Mohr, UM School of Business Administration. Mohr was named Montana’s first woman Regents Professor at a ceremony held at UM in November 2008.

George M. Dennison Presidential Staff Award for Distinguished Accomplishment: Jodi Johnson Moreau, off-campus events coordinator, UM Office of Alumni Relations. Moreau has worked at UM for 15 years and joined the alumni office staff in 2000. Since then she has coordinated more than 50 tailgates. She also coordinates alumni relation’s successful House of Delegates.

Montana Faculty Service Award: Professor Jean Luckowski, UM School of Education. Luckowski, who joined the education school faculty in 1983, has served on and chaired several University committees and the Faculty Senate, as well as representing UM throughout Montana and the nation.

Robert T. Pantzer Presidential Humanitarian Award: Associate Professor Phil Condon, UM Environmental Studies Program. Condon, who received a master’s from UM in fine arts, creative writing, works to provide forums for environmental and nature writers and opportunities for students to write, read, present and publish in the field.