Vol. 3 Issue 11 Fresh news every day at www.rocky.edu December 2008

Rocky Now: Keeping our friends and supporters informed aboutwhat’s new and exciting at Rocky Mountain College

R O C K Y N O W

It’s all about our studentsWhen John Mowell, president and CEO of

Mowell Investment Group, was honored for amajor gift to the aviation program that retired thedebt on the Piper Seminole twin-engine aircraft,one of the most memorable and moving speechesthat day was delivered by Taylor Capers, a senioraviation student.“I never met youbefore, Mr.Mowell, but I amhere to tell youthat what you didhad a directimpact on mylife.” Capersexplained howimportant theaircraft is forpilot training.“This is a prettyplane, capable ofhigh perform -ance. It makes adifference in how good a pilot I'll be.” WhatTaylor told Jack Mowell echoes what many RMCstudents could say to the College’s benefactors:Never doubt that you make a difference.

Taylor Capers said when he wondered one dayabout what he really wanted to become, he knewit would be a pilot. He had loved the idea of fly-ing ever since he was a little kid on a ranch inVictor, Montana. “I asked myself, ‘why not.’” hesaid. “Why can’t I be a pilot?” The answer camefrom Rocky Mountain College. Taylor lookedonline, sent an email query and “the next day I gotan answer.” The answer was that he could join theRMC aviation program and in less than a month,he was enrolled. Taylor is not the ordinary highschool graduate who comes to Rocky. Now 26years old and a senior, he lost some time in col-lege when his dad was seriously injured andTaylor had to go home to run the family ranch andelectronic service business. He had been attendingMSU- Bozeman, but was not satisfied with hisclasses in his major, biology and ecology. His ideawas to have a career in fish and wildlife manage-

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Photo: Dave M. Shumway, RMC staff

Taylor Capers is already pay-ing his way through collegewith a summer crop dustingjob.During the school year, heinterns at Horizon Air.

Photo: Dave M. Shumway, RMC staffA Christmas tree bulb glows as it reflects the festive atmosphere in Fraley Lounge.

Photo: Dave M. Shumway, RMC staffOne of the highlights of the campus Christmas events is the annual RMC Yule Log dinner.The dinner is followed by entertainment in Fraley Lounge, where (l-r) Rebecca Baken, DavidKeys, Olle Friberg, Isa Floden, Jennifer Teten, Megan Thees, Tyler Chandler, Jade Peterson,Fabiano Jacome, Zam DeShields, and Heather Grotbo showed it was a merry occasion.

A Very Campus ChristmasThis time of year at Rocky Mountain College

is magical. The campus dons its ermine winter robe.

Christmas decorations greet people at everyoffice door. The Great Room in Prescott Hall iswarm and welcoming. The look of Christmasreflects the events of Christmas. The annualYule Log dinner heralds an advent of other holi-day occasions. There is the gingerbread buildingcontest, sponsored by the Student ActivityBoard. This actually precedes the Yule Log din-ner so that the finished gingerbread creationsmay serve as centerpieces for the tables. After

(More Campus Christmas, please turn to back)

the dinner, students, faculty, staff and friendsadjourn for entertainment in Fraley Lounge,where a Christmas tree towers in the center ofthe room. As the hearth blazes, smiles glow.

This prelude to Christmas break followedthe annual RMC Band Concert, and precedesthe annual Festival of Lessons and Carols, pre-sented by the RMC Concert Choir. While theconcert features mostly RMC student singers,

what makes the event special isthe participation of others fromthe Rocky family. The concertwill include staff, faculty andboard members reading lessons.One board member, Ron Tjaden,RMC '64, enjoys the tradition somuch that he drives down fromhis home on Flathead Lakes tosing. RMC President Mike Macealso joins the choir. This event, sorepresentative of the RMC com-munity, has become so popularthat two performances, one in theafternoon and one in the evening,are offered.

This time of year, as an exten-sion of Thanksgiving, also is anopportunity to express gratitude tothose who support the College.The annual RMC Scholarship Luncheon bringsthose who have endowed scholarships face-to-face with students who benefit from their char-ity. Coming soon after that, the President andMrs. Mace hold a holiday reception in theGreat Room for faculty, staff, alumni andfriends.

Less formal expressions of the season eruptnear the campus historic buildings, Snowballfights put sound and shape to silent snow.Students glide down the walks to class.

Impromptu snow sculptures are built. Studentsface rigorous hours to study for semesterfinals, but they also find willing hands helpingwith tutorials. Free massages are offered toease the stress of long study periods. The cam-pus post office is busier than ever as cards andpackages go out and come in.

Pervading the campus community is thesense that this time of year could never bemore seasoned with good will as it is at RockyMountain College.

CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION

Campus Christmas/ from front page

ment. “I really wasn't happy with that course,”he said. That all changed at Rocky. Since hearrived he has excelled academically, main-taining a 3.7 GPA in his major and a 3.4 over-all. He is in Who's Who in American Collegesand Universities, on the national-bound flightteam, and an active member of the AviationStudent Advisory Council and a member ofthe president's council. He also holds down aninternship with Horizon Air. “Right now I'mslinging bags and handling freight, but I'vebeen told when I'm ready I have a job flying,”he said. He already flies summers, as a certified cropduster. “Rocky helped me become what I real-ly want to be,” he said. “That would not havehappened anywhere else. I don't think I evermade as good a decision.”

Taylor/ from front page

Allyson Kelley, RockyMountain College director ofTitle III, has been named a2008 Children's EnvironmentalHealth Champion by the U.S.Environmental ProtectionAgency.

Kelley said she represented

Rocky Mountain College,which was one of only 12organizations across the coun-try to be honored for its workto help protect children fromenvironmental health hazards.

“I received the award, but Iconsider that it is for everyone

who worked with me on theeffort to eliminate toxic andhazardous materials fromreservation schools and facili-ties,” she said. “I get themoney and lead the effort, butit's more about teachers andkids who make it a success.”

Kelley was recognized forher work at a banquet at theChurchill Hotel in Washington,D.C. on Oct. 22, 2008.

Courtesy photo“Allyson has demonstrated outstanding leadership in Tribal chil-dren’s environmental health.” said Ruth McCully, (right) Director,Office of Children's Health Protection and EnvironmentalEducation, as she presented the award to Allyson Kelley.

Photo: Dave M. Shumway, RMC staffRose Alfieri, Kelly Naletelich, and Kelsey Dwyer focus intense-ly on their gingerbread creations. In this event, sponsored bythe Student Activities Board, the best gingerbread house winsa prize, but all help the holiday spirit as they serve as Yule Logdinner table centerpieces.

EPA awards Allyson Kelley its national ‘champion’ award

RMC Flight Team wins berthto national tournament

The Rocky Mountain College Intercollegiate Flight Team has been invit-ed to national competition, based on their strong performance at theNational Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) regional competition inGreeley, Colorado in October.

The team finished third overall, missing second place by the narrow mar-gin of only five points, according to Dan Hargrove, Rocky MountainCollege director of aviation. The Air Force Academy took first place, andMetro State in Denver was second.

National competition will be in St. Louis in May, 2009.

Photo: Brandon Templeton, RMCThe team was led by captains, Brandon Templeton and Lukas Johnson.The rest of the team includes Amy Hyde, Brian Kelleher, ConnorLockwood, Dmitri Nesmeianov, Grant Gagnon, Hannah Neel, HeatherKasubowski, Jacob Keierleber, Jase Korol, Jesse Taylor, Kevin Keegan,Ryle Evanoff, and Taylor Capers.