91´ÎÔª

MISSOULA – A 91´ÎÔª education can set you on a path to your dream career, and many grads are making an impact as soon as they graduate. The  is honoring the outstanding work of recent graduates in its latest .

These young alums are truly remaking the world with their incredible dedication to their careers and communities, said LeAnn Layton, UM’s associate vice president for alumni and community relations.

“91´ÎÔª alumni continue to inspire us with their drive to create meaningful change, both close to home and around the globe,” Layton said. “The 25 Under 25 honorees exemplify how Grizzlies translate their education into real-world impact early in their careers, and we are thrilled to celebrate their remarkable achievements and bright futures.”

Layton is excited to see where the dedication and passion of these young alumni leads them in the years to come. Honorees are being featured on social media and will appear UM’s Montanan magazine. 

The UM alumni honorees are:

Mack Anderson, ’22, ’23, Bozeman – As a Griz basketball player, Anderson tied the program record for games played and graduated with a marketing degree and an MBA. He then broke out into the business world, supporting and promoting Uflo, a start-up company that specializes in open-access content to help improve student academic success. Anderson has since transitioned into working for BSN Sports and marketing all things athletic. His passion for athletics, teamwork and developing young people in sports also led him to become an assistant coach for Missoula’s Sentinel High School’s basketball team. 

Josh Bannan, ’23, Melbourne, Australia – Bannan was a standout during his time at UM, both on the court for Griz basketball and in the classroom. Upon graduating from UM in 2023 with a degree in economics, Bannan made a splash in the world of professional basketball with the Brisbane Bullets of the NBL in Australia. In 2024, he was invited to join the Los Angeles Clippers NBA Summer League roster. Bannan is now back in Australia, enjoying a successful run with the Tasmania JackJumpers. Bannan also saw playing time during the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers in the hopes of making the Olympic team to represent Australia. 

Alexios Brown, ’23, Missoula – A graduate of the W.A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation, Brown became the forest stewardship coordinator for Montana State University Extension Forestry and the Montana Project Learning Tree state coordinator in 2023. In her role Brown works closely with private landowners in Montana to ensure sustainable forest management on private property throughout the state. She also organizes and conducts forest stewardship workshops throughout the year, geared towards logging professionals and private landowners, to provide management-related information and help landowners generate stewardship plans for their forested properties across the state. She works closely with formal and non-formal educators, encouraging them and providing the tools they need to get students to learn outdoors. Brown is now continuing her education by pursuing a master’s in land resources and environmental science. 

Carmen Gfeller, ’22, ’24, Colfax, Washington – Gfeller left her mark on the Lady Griz basketball program at UM, ranking in the top 10 in several statistical categories and earning multiple All-Big Sky Conference Awards. She completed an English degree and an MPA while doing so. Gfeller journeyed to Steinsel, Luxembourg, to compete internationally with B.B.C. Amicale Steesel for the 2024-25 season. Returning stateside this year, she is now pursuing her dream working in a high school and mentoring students to work hard to succeed as a teacher and basketball coach at Lakeland High School in Rathdrum, Idaho.

Rachana Harris, ’23, Missoula – Harris is now serving a two-year assignment with the Peace Corps teaching English in Moldova, which borders war-torn Ukraine. Before graduating from UM with honors with a sociology degree and certificates in global leadership and world competencies, Harris studied abroad in Lithuania and traveled to Armenia. She also was awarded the Department of Sociology and Criminology’s Academic Excellence Award, reserved for the student with the highest academic performance in that sector. After time in the Peace Corps, Harris plans to earn an MPA or attend law school. 

Jorgia Hawthorne, ’24, Great Falls – As a first-generation college student, Hawthorne hit the ground running after graduating in 2024. Using skills developed in Washington, D.C., through the Baucus Leaders Program, she served as a high-level staffer for a 2024 Montana governor candidate. She focused on mobilizing young people in Montana, using connections she created as a UM student. Despite facing tough losses in November 2024, Hawthorne quickly returned to work serving her communities. She is now the Gail Stoltz Fellow for a statewide political party, managing their social media and digital content. With degrees in political science and journalism, she also hosts and produces its podcast. Hawthorne is a fierce advocate for her peers and community and believes civic engagement is a cornerstone for a strong democracy and prosperity for all.  

Madison Kohls, ’22, Manhattan, Kansas – Kohls studied biology and was a member of the ROTC program during her time at UM. Since graduation she has been deployed to the Middle East, where she serves as an explosive ordnance detachment officer for the United States Army, disabling and defeating bombs and other explosive weapons.

Talon Kristenson, ’23, Tempe, Arizona – Kristenson is a third-grade teacher in Arizona, dedicated to creating a classroom where every student feels valued, supported and excited to learn. Kristenson’s UM degree in sociology gives her a deep understanding of social systems, equity and the importance of inclusive education. That foundation continues to guide his work in the classroom and fuels the commitment to supporting all students, especially those who have been historically underserved. Kristenson is a proud young educator working to create a brighter, more inclusive future, one child at a time. 

Cameron LaFond, ’24, Butte – LaFond graduated with honors from UM’s College of Business with a degree in management information systems and a cybersecurity management certificate. She uses her networking skills to land a role with AttackIQ, an industry leader in cybersecurity. She now works as a customer success manager for the company. LaFond is trailblazing her path and making her mark on the cybersecurity world, creating a more secure world to compute. 

Clarise Larson, ’22, Juneau, Alaska – Larson graduated from UM with a degree in journalism and a minor in Chinese. As a student her work for UM’s Native News Honors Project, earned Larson second place in . She moved to Alaska to work as a reporter for a Juneau newspaper and has since taken a position with KTOO, a nonprofit public media news station. She reports on local government, Alaska Native culture and breaking news. In her spare time, Larson is an active member of the Juneau community and serves as the head coach of the Juneau Nordic Ski Club’s youth team. 

Kayla Leavell, ’23, ’25, Missoula – Leavell works at a skilled nursing facility as a speech language pathologist to increase the quality of life for the geriatric population. She supports people in their end-of-life journey, ensuring they feel comfortable, safe and accepted. Leavell earned her undergrad and M.S. in speech language pathology from UM.  

Mia McKinney, ’22, Missoula – McKinney has been serving the Missoula community well before she finished graduating UM with degrees in sociology and women and gender studies. She now works for the YWCA, a nonprofit that moves women and families out of crisis, empowering them into lasting independence. She spearheaded the YWCA’s GUTS program, an outdoor adventure and leadership program for girls and non-binary youth that aims to develop confidence, leadership skills and supportive friendships. McKinney also volunteers with various other local organizations, including Free Cycles and Run Wild Missoula.  

Isabelle Melton, ’22, Helena – Melton graduated from UM with honors as a Davidson Honors College Scholar and degrees in political science and multidisciplinary studies, along with two certificates in global leadership and world competencies. She completed an internship at Disney World in Orlando, Florida, through the Disney College Program. She was then accepted into Harvard Law School, where she just completed her second year. Melton serves as the co-program director for the Advocates for Human Rights at HLS and is the Harvard International Law Journal’s online executive editor. She also plays for the law school's club soccer team and performs with the Scales of Justice, an a cappella ensemble. She now works as a summer associate at Jones Day, a multinational law firm, and returns to Harvard this fall to complete her degree. 

Kevin Northey, ’24, Helena – Northey graduated from UM with degrees in management information systems and finance as a member of the Davidson Honors College and a Baucus Scholar. While a full-time student, Northey also served as a policy intern for the Montana Governor’s Office, then moved into the position of policy adviser following graduation. Northey now works in Washington, D.C., with the U.S. Senate.  

Dylan Notturno, ’23, Missoula – Notturno earned a marketing degree from UM and quickly made his mark as one of the youngest team members at Pathlabs, a fast-growing media execution partner headquartered in Montana. Notturno carved his own path, rising to the role of Senior Marketing Specialist, where he now leads high-impact demand generation efforts. He is Pathlabs’ go-to for data-backed growth strategies, building their CRM infrastructure and launching sophisticated email marketing strategies. 

Libby Riddle, ’23, Missoula – After graduating from UM with a degree in wildlife biology, Riddle jumped straight into the field – first as a technician with the UM Bird Ecology Lab and then with American Conservation Experience. By 2024, Riddle had expanded her impact through outdoor education roles with Ecology Project International and the Montana Natural History Center. In addition, Riddle also launched a science podcast, “Bio Babes,” where she blends humor and curiosity to explore quirky biology facts and make science accessible to broader audiences. Her knack for storytelling led her to her current role as the science communications specialist for the W.A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation, where she has revitalized the college's wildlife biology social media and become an essential part of the communications team. This fall, Riddle will begin graduate studies in environmental science and natural resource journalism at UM.  

Abigail Sherwood, ’24, Frenchtown – Sherwood graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. in environmental science and sustainability and a minor in Spanish, receiving a President’s Outstanding Student Award. During her time as a student, she worked as a research technician at the Fire Ecology Paleoecology Lab at UM, served as treasurer of the Mortar Board and was an ambassador for the Davidson Honors College. Sherwood competed for the Griz cross-country and track-and-field programs and held leadership positions on the Student Athlete Advisory Committee. She also interned with The Nature Conservancy as a Max Baucus Institute Climate Scholar and with the U.S Department of Interior Office of Wildland Fire in Washington, D.C., as a Demmer Scholar. Serving as an instructor with the Ripple Center for Ecosystem Education, she taught Missoula public school students a place-based watershed education curriculum. Sherwood is now a legal secretary at the Montana Department of Environmental Quality and recently served as a Montana delegate for the Western Governors' Leadership Institute 2025 Cohort. Sherwood will begin law school at UM this fall.

Scott Sicz, ’22, Polson – Sicz graduated from UM summa cum laude with a degree in business administration and a certificate in entertainment management. Sicz now works as the client success manager at ShapeScale, a San Francisco health-tech startup revolutionizing health and fitness with an advanced 3D body scanner. He trains partners nationwide, building scalable success systems and collaborating with product and sales teams to drive measurable client results. 

Kolter Stevenson, ’24, Manhattan – Stevenson carried a 4.0 GPA through four majors at UM: finance, management information systems, international business and Russian. Stevenson became the first UM student in 30 years to be awarded the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship to study at the University of Oxford in the U.K. He was also a Presidential Leadership Scholar at the Davidson Honors College. As a student, Stevenson co-founded Smart Dorm, a company aiming to reduce energy usage and improve housing conditions for undergraduate students. He will earn a master’s in energy systems this fall and will continue his education at Oxford to pursue a Ph.D. in engineering science, concentrated on thermofluids and turbomachinery research. Kolter aims to work on sustainable energy production for rural communities in the U.S. and Central Asia.  

Sean Stineford, ’23, ’25, Missoula – Stineford fell in love with the trombone at a young age and came to UM to study music, graduating with a master’s in music performance. He was active with the UM School of Music and Grizzly Marching Band. Recently, Stineford auditioned and was selected for the U.S. Air Force Band of the Golden West, stationed near San Francisco. The band’s selection process is highly competitive, and the group only includes 60 members. Stineford will soon head to basic training to begin his Air Force career. 

Sidney Stoner, ’21, ’24, Libby – Stoner earned a bachelor’s degree in communication sciences and disorders and master’s in speech language pathology from UM. She has since accepted a position with the Missoula Education Cooperative, working as the speech-language pathologist for both the Arlee School District (K-12) and Clinton School District (K-8). Stoner is deeply committed to supporting students in the rural communities surrounding Missoula, particularly those from low-income backgrounds, all while being a young mother. 

Mariah Thomas, ’23, Helena – Thomas recently wrapped up a two-year stint with Report for America in Ohio, writing for the Ashland Source. This after a stellar academic career at UM, where she graduated with degrees in journalism and political science, a minor in history and a Global Leadership Certificate. She was president of the Honors Student Association, interned in the U.S. Senate as a Baucus Leader, was a Presidential Leadership Scholar and sat on the editorial board for the Montana Kaiman. Thomas is now returning to Montana to cover education and state politics for the Flathead Beacon. She has served as a mentor in high school journalism classes and continues to volunteer with various organizations to inspire the next generation of young journalists. 

Jason Upton, ’23, ’24, Missoula – Graduating with a B.S. in finance and an MBA, Upton also enjoyed a successful career on the Griz track-and-field team during his time at UM. He achieved multiple All-Big Sky performances and was a key member of the team’s 4x100m relay team that holds the UM program record. Upton has since put his two business degrees to work and is now a local financial advisor, helping others successfully build their financial futures. With a passion for giving back to his community, Upton also coaches for Missoula Sentinel High School’s track-and-field team.  

Morgan Weidow, ’21, ’24, Corvallis – As chief operating officer at Shadow Ridge Analytics, Weidow is actively shaping the next chapter of Montana’s high-tech industries, from critical minerals to photonics and quantum technologies. Her work strengthens Montana’s small business landscape to help create high-paying, future-oriented jobs for local graduates. Weidow manages multimillion-dollar federal and commercial projects, co-launches new business lines and is helping lead the development of Lux Studios, a new venture studio dedicated to commercializing technologies from Montana’s research institutions and national labs. During her time at UM, Weidow earned a B.S. in human biology, a Global Leadership Certificate and an MBA. She now also serves on the Montana Biotechnology Center Advisory Committee. 

Kyle Wonders, ’24, Newbury Park, California – As a UM Advocate, Zoo Crew Leader and Davidson Honors College Scholar, Wonders stayed involved in campus life while earning a degree in wildlife biology from UM. He has since moved into a position as a field educator with Yellowstone Forever, the official nonprofit partner for Yellowstone National Park. In this role, he works to authentically connect visitors, families and students to Yellowstone National Park through place-based, experiential environmental education. Topics of instruction range from wildlife management to volcanism. He acts as a naturalist to allow everyone from locals to international tourists to connect with a truly wild landscape and leave the park with a deeper appreciation for the wilderness around them. Wonders also has served as the Montana Environmental Education Board vice president since 2023.

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Contact: LeAnn Layton, UM associate vice president for alumni and community relations, 406-243-5258, leann.layton@umontana.edu.