This week we welcome 36 students from all over the country to the DHC's Kermit and Kathleen Schwanke Summer Honors Institute. Participants include rising and recently graduated high school seniors who will enroll in an honors class (either Wildlife Biology with Erim Gomez or Creative Writing with Robert Stubblefield) and adventure to Lubrecht Experimental Forest, hike to Morrell Falls, canoe at the Flathead Lake Biological Station and hike the M on the 'almost solstice'. Led by our Director of Student Engagement Bethany Applegate and Student Success Coordinator Lucille Vanek, and supported by Wellness Coordinator (and DHC alum) Josh Martelon, and a wonderfully winning cast of undergraduate honors resident program assistants Kate Hauck, Josh Lamb, Coco Streifler, and David Wolfe, and dynamic drivers Oliver Jepson and Rayne McCullough — we are excited for another wonderful year of 'Schwanke.' Go Team!
Last week Bethany, Lucille, Cate and I had the chance to lunch with Bill Schwanke and to share some of the remarkable outcomes from more than 30 years of the honors institute. Bill's remarkable memory, enormous network of family and friends, and masterful story-telling skills enthralled us all. Thanks to Bill and to the whole Schwanke Family for their decades of engagement and support of this transformative pre-college program.
The Justice Challenge wrapped its third and final year with field courses in South Dakota and Texas and a culminating celebratory Zoom last Thursday evening. Speaking of the Justice Challenge, it was delightful to welcome honors colleague and Justice Challenge mainstay Dr. Jon Kotinek, Director of the Honors Academy at Texas A & M University, along with his fine family on their Montana family vacation when they stopped between visits to Glacier and Yellowstone national parks.
Earlier this summer, Katie, Bethany, Sam, and I attended the Honors Education at Research Universities (HERU) conference hosted by the Barrett Honors College (the nation's largest) at Arizona State University. Our sessions focused on leadership transitions (with colleagues from Virginia Tech and South Dakota State), building community, and the Justice Challenge's approach to providing access through institutions, expertise, students, technology, pedagogy, and community. The conference speakers, workshops, presentations, and tacos were terrific. Of course, it was a joy to travel with our team and we were even able to squeeze in a visit to Phoenix's stunning Desert Botanical Garden. All in all, a fun and inspiring trip!
Speaking of educational, fun, and inspiring trips, honors student journalists Marley Barbo-Eisel, Hattie Batchelder, Riley Comstock, Kaedence Eames, Noah Epps, Hanna Grass, Vivi Ostheimer, Haven Sager, and Brooke Strickler traveled to Nepal in May with professors Nadia White and Denise Dowling for a field course reporting topics ranging from local climate solutions to ecological restoration, wildlife rehabilitation, Indigenous communities, street dogs, cultural traditions, women's empowerment, and more. Noah even landed a summer-long gig with the Kathmandu Morning Post. Friends and fellow DHC'ers Marley and Ephraim joined Noah for some follow up mountaineering adventures in the Himalayas.
Also in May, 27 MOLLI students and Program Manager Teri Zanto traveled to Ireland with popular instructor Dr. Alan Noonan who brought Ireland's rich history to life. Highlights of the trip included climbing to the top of Blarney Castle and kissing the famous Blarney Stone, ferrying to the Aran islands and hiking an ancient fort, visiting St. Patrick's Cathedral, exploring Trinity College — Dublin, touring Kilkenny Castle, and experiencing breathtaking views from the Cliffs of Moher. What a trip!
Back in the states, UM's 2026 Truman Scholars, Cadence Hatten and Vivi Ostheimer, accompanied by Dr. Benes, participated in the Truman Scholars Leadership Week at William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri. The week included networking, time for reflection, an awards program, community service projects, and a visit to the Truman Library. Among Kylla's comment from the trip: 'our scholars shined!'
I'm thrilled to share that Dr. Benes will travel to Germany next fall as a recipient of Fulbright's International Education Administrators award. Kylla works so hard and has been so darn successful at creating opportunities for our students and faculty, it is indeed a joy to learn of her selection. Congratulations, Kylla, and thanks for all you do!
More congratulations are due to 2026 honors graduate Claire Bernard who was named a winner of the National Writing Championship at the Hearst Journalism Awards in San Francisco. The Hearst Awards are often referred to as the 'Pulitzers of College Journalism.' Fellow Grizzly Maddie McCuddy brought home the nation's top prize in photography.
Congratulations are also due to those University Scholars who were selected by their departments as the outstanding students in their respective programs.
Outstanding Seniors in Majors
Maya Anderson, Criminology
Zoe Belinda, Environmental Studies
Alison Blee, Political Science and Spanish
Bridger Burkes, Game Design and Interactive Media
Calvin Caplis, Finance
Josie Caringi, Dance
Katia Chavez, Wildlife Biology
Jacqueline Collver, French
Riley Comstock, Environmental Science and Sustainability
Riley Crews, Sociology
Lydia Garrick, Biochemistry
Javier Hamlin, Park, Tourism, and Recreation Management
Ava Lamers, Exercise Science
Daniel Martin, History
Annie McLaverty, Elementary Education
Lydia Neidermeyer, Business Management
Tatyana Rohrer, Russian
Elliot Sanford, Geosciences
Lauren Schulte, Psychology
Logan Sites, German and Linguistics
Alden Whitney, Forestry
Adam Zahn, Economics
Special shout out to Alison and Logan above for being named outstanding senior for both of their majors. Woo Hoo!
At the other end of continuum, we've recently announced our class of incoming Presidential Leadership, Provost's Honors, and Dean's Leadership Scholars; and we're thrilled to welcome this crew and all of our new class of baby bears to the DHC!
I hope you all have had or will soon find some opportunity for relaxation, restoration, and recreation with those you love. We'll do a summer round up of faculty and student updates in next month's Bear Necessities, so please keep us posted of your awesome adventures. After a cool, wet few weeks, Missoula is every shade of green, and today's weather is just perfect. Today from Billy Collins feels just right.
If ever there were a spring day so perfect, so uplifted by a warm intermittent breeze
that it made you want to throw open all the windows in the house
and unlatch the door to the canary's cage, indeed, rip the little door from its jamb,
a day when the cool brick paths and the garden bursting with peonies
seemed so etched in sunlight that you felt like taking
a hammer to the glass paperweight on the living room end table,
releasing the inhabitants from their snow-covered cottage
so they could walk out, holding hands and squinting
into this larger dome of blue and white, well, today is just that kind of day.
