UM offered a uniquely Indian perspective on the Corps of Discovery and its pivotal impact on American history with a three-day symposium. “A Confluence of Cultures: Native Americans and the Expedition of Lewis and Clark” drew more than 600 participants — many of whom are members of tribes along the famous trail. The conference was the first major Montana event commemorating the expedition’s bicentennial. The more than 120 presenters and performers represented 30 tribal colleges and 44 other institutions of higher learning. They shared their research, detailing how life has changed for tribes or tribal culture in the wake of the Corps of Discovery and the Euro-American tide that followed.

The conference was the idea of two Indian men: UM law Professor Ray Cross, a Mandan-Hidatsa, and alumnus Darrell Kipp, a Blackfeet and founder of the Piegan Institute and Nizipuhwahsin Language School in Browning. Producers from UM’s Broadcast Media Center recorded Confluence speakers and compiled a DVD version of the conference proceedings, which were distributed to participants, news media and public libraries along the Lewis and Clark Trail.

Top jazz clarinetist and Montana resident Buddy DeFranco marked his 80th birthday at the UM jazz festival named in his honor. The concert featured a stellar lineup of jazz musicians, accompanied by local favorites the All-Star Jazz Trio and UM Jazz Band I.

With more American Indian students than ever attending UM, a new program was launched this year to ensure that Indian students are successful in their studies. The American Indian Student Support Services program is designed to help students with all facets of college life, from life off the reservation to access to campus services.

Internationally acclaimed jazz singer Dee Daniels and award-winning artist Dana Boussard headlined the 2003 Odyssey of the Stars — A Celebration of Artistic Journeys in April. The UM alumnae showcased their talents alongside those of UM students and faculty to raise $23,000 for the School of Fine Arts Scholarship Fund.

Danielle Cross, a senior in radio-television, took top honors and collected $6,000 in the final round of competition in the Hearst Journalism Awards Program, otherwise known as the “college Pulitzers.” She won first place in the radio news competition, as well as a prize for best use of radio for news coverage.

Cross was not alone in distinguishing UM’s School of Journalism. Top-notch work by fellow journalism students earned UM seventh place in the overall competition of the Hearst Journalism Awards Program. UM moved up from its 10th-place showing the previous year and is the only Northwest school ranked in the top 10. Thirteen UM students won individual Hearst awards.

Citing her former track record in Montana, the state Board of Regents unanimously approved the appointment in June of Sheila M. Stearns as Montana’s new commissioner of higher education. Stearns earned her bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees at UM-Missoula, then held positions as the University’s Alumni Relations director and vice president of University Relations. She became chancellor of UM-Western in Dillon after the Montana University System’s 1994 restructuring brought all campuses under the state’s two major universities. In 1999 she became president of Wayne State College in Nebraska. Stearns, who says her longtime love of her home state prompted her to apply for the state’s top higher education position, hopes to use her communication and diplomacy skills to build a bridge between the Legislature and the University System.

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