CAMPUS IS HOME each fall to the Missoula Heart Walk, and hundreds of participants enjoy the scenic route that crosses the Oval and weaves between century-old buildings. The two-mile trek gets their hearts pumping for a good cause — education and research for heart disease and stroke. It also raises awareness about such studies being conducted by faculty and students in UM labs. This year big-hearted walkers raised $115,000, with about $17,000 coming from 17 UM employee teams.

HUNDREDS OF special athletes stepped back in time to discover the Lewis and Clark experience during the 2004 Olympic Village, held in conjunction with the Special Olympics State Summer Games. For the second year, UM hosted the village as an entertainment center for athletes and their coaches and families to relax and recreate. Visitors learned about the famous explorers through interaction with Lewis and Clark reenactors and hands-on activities.

REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL students answered tough questions during UM’s Brain Busters, a televised academic bowl. Billings Skyview High School students won the game’s first-ever state championship, earning $30,000 in scholarships that team members can use at any UM campus. Bozeman High School’s second-place team won $24,000 in scholarships. Sixty-four teams from Montana and northern Wyoming competed during Saturday contests held in Billings and Missoula. UM sponsors the bowl to attract the best and brightest students.

A MISSOULA FAMILY moved into a brand-new home, thanks to UM students and employees who worked on the first-ever “Griz Built” house through Habitat for Humanity. But the work didn’t stop there. Through UM’s Office for Civic Engagement, 1,064 students provided 24,677 hours of community service to organizations that included Missoula County Public Schools, Missoula Community Gardens and Village Health Care Center. In addition, faculty members from varied disciplines integrated service learning into 42 classes.

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THE FOURTH ANNUAL Easter Eggstravaganza was a smashing success with almost 2,000 Missoula youngsters scrambling for prize-filled eggs on the Oval. Ranked by USA Today as the No. 3 egg hunt in the nation, the event offers hundreds of pounds of candy and prizes. Hunters who found special maroon, silver and gold eggs were rewarded with top Grizzly logo prizes. Grizzly athletes, Monte and the Easter Bunny helped kids fill their baskets with goodies.