Today, more than 30 'Schwankers' depart campus after a smashingly successful experience with the DHC's signature pre-college program, the Schwanke Honors Institute. Yesterday's showcase, which included stunning creative pieces and impressive wildlife presentations -- and the celebratory dinner that followed -- were wonderful ways to cap a busy two weeks of coursework, field experiences, programs highlighting academic and professional opportunities at UM, and of course, lots of fun activities, too. Highlights included a field trip to UM's Flathead Lake Biological Station and Lubrecht Experimental Forest, hiking with Swan Valley Connections, Big Dipper ice cream, frisbee on the Oval, campfire s'mores, and an 'almost solstice' night-time walk up the M. Two academic courses, 'Wildlife Wonders' and 'Creative Writing in the Environment' were expertly and energetically delivered by Professors Erim Gómez and Robert Stubblefield. Resident Program Assistants and current DHC students Kate Hauck, Josh Lamb, Dylan Van Rossum, and soon-to-be-honors-student Phil Tillman provided round-the-clock mentorship, support, and leadership. Director of Student Engagement Bethany 'Mama Bear' Applegate and her awesome assistant, Taylor Greene, guided the team with positivity, compassion, and resilience. As a very special treat, Bill Schwanke, representing the Schwanke family for whom the institute is named, joined us for our final night. I extend my deepest gratitude and sincere congratulations to everyone who worked so hard to make the program successful, and most especially to our bright, enthusiastic, students — who joined us from Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, and more -- for an unforgettable couple of weeks. Schwanke continues to be a milestone and highlight of summertime at the DHC.
Dr. Hanson recently wrapped up his summer session Ways of Knowing, and we held our Justice Challenge Culminating Conference earlier this month (Maiya even Zoomed in from her study abroad in New Zealand). Dr. Benes began her summer with an Indigenous mentoring workshop on the Blackfeet Reservation in May. Kylla describes the experience as "an amazing opportunity to learn from elder Leo Bird and spend time with UM colleagues." Kylla's summer OESF workshops continue; meanwhile, Peter delivered the keynote address at an international climate education conference.
We received exciting news that 2025 University Scholar (Physics, Mathematics) Mary Catlett of Bozeman was awarded a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. She will pursue her MS (and eventually Ph.D.) in hydrology from the Colorado School of Mines. Congratulations, Mary, on this singular achievement! We're so proud of you!
Speaking of pride in our recent graduates, the Registrar's Office has released the 2025 President's Outstanding Student Awards for majors and programs at UM. The DHC is well represented on this list, which includes:
Asher Swan Adams, Neuroscience (cellular and molecular)
Wyatt Balius, Philosophy
Camden Capser, Management and Entrepreneurship
Mary Catlett, Mathematics (statistics and data science)
Alyssa Curry, Political Science
Nicole Emlen, Biology (ecology and organismal)
Madalyn Gabel, Geography
Aaron Gerhart, Anthropology and English (literature)
Isabel Hammond, Spanish
Isla Hargreaves, Biology (teaching)
Ava Heintzelman, Biochemistry
Erin Heaton, Social Work
Ava Heintzelman, Biochemistry
Sarah Hibbard, Theater Education
Marian Kale, Music
Jocelyn Kooistra, Parks, Tourism, and Recreation Management
Sean Kunau, Russian
Tanner Liermann, Wildlife Biology (terrestrial)
Halley Linscheid, Media Arts
Kevin Northey, Finance
Cana Odegaard, Sociology (inequality, social justice)
Hope Sampson, Environmental Science and Sustainability (resource conservation)
Jamison Talley, Computational Physics
Luca Welle, Environmental Studies
Lauren Western, Wildlife Biology (aquatic)
Samantha Westphal, Forestry
Alexis Wigdorski, English (teaching)
The team has been busy on lots of fronts since Commencement Weekend. Yield efforts for our fall 2025 class, synthesis and responses to various assessment efforts, web/brochure updates, course/program planning, task force implementation, and technological transitions are keeping us plenty busy. We received our 2024-2025 budget allocation, and participated in retreats with the DHC Team, with my fellow Deans, and with the larger University Leadership Council. We've also developed and presented the DHC's Strategic Outlook and have engaged donors in a sequence of important conversations about fundraising for the DHC's future. One especially fun visit included a trip to see Dean Hellinger (class of 1957) in Shelby, who has made an estate gift for honors student scholarships; the trip up the Blackfoot and across the Rocky Mountain front was nothing short of spectacular.
In another spectacular sequence, I was deeply honored to officiate the wedding of DHC alum and Student Success Coordinator Andy Josten and his bride Taylor Hill in the beautiful Mission Valley last weekend. Fellow honors alums Morgan Weidow (Chief Wedding Officer), Josh Martelon and Wyatt Neilsen (Best Boys), and Tanner Liermann (Shark Wrangler) were all part of the celebration, and the music featured both our Roots Ensemble and a stunning processional arranged by the groom himself. Abi, Ben, Dylan, Ephraim, Isabel, Laura, Luca, Marian, Sophia, and Sylvia (and more!) played and sang beautifully, and with their whole hearts. Cheers to the newlyweds; it's all about the love!
We've included at the conclusion of this issue of the 'BN' a collage of the team and some of their summer adventures, along with some pictures of the Schwanke crew. For our July Bear Necessities, we'd love to include more updates and photos highlighting our students' summer activities. Please send us a quick blurb (and a photo if you've got it), and we'll be sure it's included. We'd love to hear from you!
In the meantime, I'm wishing you all the very best for this beautiful Montana summer! And Happy Solstice! Here is Mary Oliver's Invitation:
