Growing a Safer Montana

On Friday, January 11, 2019 students from four Montana college campuses met in Helena to receive the $3,000 Growing a Safer Montana scholarship provided by the Montana State Fund. Of the 11 scholarships awarded, Montana Tech students received eight. This exceptional group included three students from Highlands College of Montana Tech and five students from Montana Tech’s the Occupational Safety and Health Department.

Montana Tech students who won the award include:

Jakob Bloom, a Construction Technology/Carpentry student at Highlands College graduating in 2019 who will continue on at Montana Tech pursing a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Business with a Construction Management track
Jacques Boulet, an Occupational Safety and Health major who will graduate in 2020
Tyler Davis, a graduate student in Industrial Hygiene graduating in 2019
Ciara Kremer, a graduate student in Industrial Hygiene graduating in 2019
Maria Ralph, a Construction Technology/Carpentry student graduating in 2019 who will continue on at Montana Tech pursing a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Business with a Construction Management track
David Stahl, a Construction Technology/Carpentry student graduating in 2019
Sarah Storey, a graduate student in Industrial Hygiene graduating in 2019
Griff Warner, a graduate student in Industrial Hygiene master’s student graduating in 2019
Lanny Hubbard, CEO of Montana State Fund surprised those in attendance announcing that the student’s awards were being doubled going from $1,500 to $3,000 per student through a joint effort between the Montana Chamber of Commerce and Montana State Fund because workplace safety is important to so many Montana industrial and businesses. “It effects all of us,” stated Hubbard.

Montana Tech faculty in attendance were Theresa Stack, Associate Professor of Safety, Health and Industrial Hygiene, and Bill Ryan, Instructor II of the Construction Technology/Carpentry program at Highlands College of Montana Tech. Professor Stack said, “The state of Montana is being proactive in their efforts to reduce unnecessary injuries and illness in the workforce by providing High Schools with grants for the purchase of safety equipment. This, in addition to the scholarships, reinforces their commitment to a safer workforce.”

Bill Ryan added, “It is very impressive that Montana Tech students received 8 out of 11 scholarship awards. Montana Tech has the safest students in Montana. This is truly something to be proud of! Congratulations to all the scholarship award winners!”