Student Excellence Awards 2020

Erika AndersonErika Anderson.
Erika is a junior pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Operation Technology and an Associate of Science in Diesel Technology with plans to eventually work in the agriculture industry. She has served in a variety of leadership roles on campus including: student ambassador, Collegiate Stockgrowers, where she is currently the Vice President, and Professional Agriculture Students (PAS), where she currently serves as the IOC Representative and previously served as the Vice President and President. Erika has a 3.83 GPA and has been the recipient of numerous scholarships, including the MSU Northern Chancellor Waiver and the MSU- Northern Gold Merit Waiver. She plans to gain experience in agronomy, conservation, or livestock management before pursuing graduate school in agriculture education or a livestock specialty. Passionate about agriculture and MSU-Northern, Erika's end goal is to return to MSUN as a faculty member.

Kishey BakerKishey Baker.
Kishey graduated in 2006 from MSU-Northern with departmental distinction in elementary education and is currently a graduate student in the counselor education program with a 3.8 GPA. Kishey's priority has been working toward earning a Master of School Counseling and taking care of her family, but she has been actively sharing her culture with faculty, staff, fellow students, and the community. She was raised with her native language and has brought indigenous ways of knowing to the community through her volunteer work with the Little River Institute and by serving as a mentor to children in her home community's schools. Following graduation next spring, Kishey plans to work as a counselor with a school district, a mental health behavior clinic, or agency working to help individuals seeking support or counseling for mental health wellness, while earning hours towards her LCPC license.

Brittany GardenBrittany Garden.
Brittany will graduate this spring with a 3.39 GPA and a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies with a minor in psychology. She has successfully managed to work full time while maintaining full time status as a student. Brittany is an inducted member of the National Society of Leadership and Success, an active member of MSUN's chapter of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), has volunteered with the Boys and Girls Club, and was accepted to attend the NEW Montana Leadership Program at the University of Montana this June. Brittany plans to attend graduate school to pursue a master's in English, with a goal of teaching at the community college level.

Adam HuseAdam Huse.
Adam will graduate this spring with a 3.49 GPA, earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and minors in accounting and psychology. For the past five years, Adam has been a key contributor on the Lights basketball team, serving as the captain for the past three seasons. He has been selected as an Academic All Frontier Conference every year, was a Champion of Character winner, and was chosen for an elite internship last summer with Cincinnati Life Insurance. Adam earned membership in the 1,000 point club at MSU-Northern and is number 12 on the scoring list. He has been active in a host of community service projects including the Havre Community Holiday feed, Havre Pride Day, MSUN Campus Clean Up, and he built gingerbread houses with Highland Park Elementary School students. Following graduation in May, Adam plans to work at PayneWest Insurance in Bozeman, MT, as a small business support specialist.

Cody MurphyCody Murphy. 
Cody will graduate this spring with a 4.0 GPA and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a minor in small business management. He has completed his degree in three years, entirely online, while working part time and serving as a caregiver for multiple family members. Cody is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and the National Society of Leadership and Success, a recipient of multiple scholarships, a volunteer with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, and a unified partner with Special Olympics. Following graduation, he plans to use his degree to help his father with his home inspection business and would eventually like to run it himself. Cody plans on earning a master's degree in the next five years.

Rilee PetersonRilee Peterson.
Rilee will earn her Bachelor of Science in Education this spring with a 3.91 GPA. She has worked as a program assistant at the Malstrom Air Force Base Youth Center and with Living Above the Influence, a local program that works to prevent youth substance abuse. Rilee developed a tutoring program with the Heisey Youth Center Reading Intervention Program, which is free and open to students and families in the Great Falls community. She was inducted into the National Society of Leadership and Success and has made the Dean's List for the past four years. Following graduation, Rilee plans to be a "champion for children" as a teacher with the Great Falls Public School District and continue her work with the tutoring program.

Ryan RocheRyan Roche. 
Ryan will graduate this spring with a 3.65 GPA, having earned a Bachelor of Science in Health Promotion and a minor in psychology. He has been active on campus and in the community as a student athletic trainer [where he has logged over 2000 hours working with Northern athletes], a resident assistant, a peer educator with the Healthy Living Advocates helping students learn more about improving their health, a volunteer with the Havre Wrestling Club, a volunteer ski technician, and a youth group assistant with Van Orsdel United Methodist Church. Ryan has been the recipient of multiple scholarships and was recently awarded the opportunity to work with the medical staff at the Montana High School Association State Wrestling tournament, which is usually offered to graduate students and certified athletic trainers. Following graduation, Ryan will be pursuing the Masters of Athletic Training degree at North Dakota State University, eventually becoming a certified athletic trainer.

Petra SellinPetra Sellin.
Petra will graduate this spring with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a minor in marketing, earning a 3.78 GPA. She has played the past two seasons with the Skylights basketball team and has received Academic All-Conference and Academic All-American honors. Petra has been an active community volunteer as she instructed a yoga class and facilitated arts and crafts with elderly residents at Timber Creek Village, participated in Havre Pride Day, MSUN Campus Clean Up, and built gingerbread houses with Highland Park Elementary School students, just to name a few. After graduation, she plans to return to Sweden and enroll in a marketing graduate program while continuing to play basketball. Petra's goal is to secure a professional position in marketing.

Amos TaiswaAmos Taiswa.
Amos will earn his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering Technology with a 3.98 GPA this spring. He has been engaged on campus as the Vice President of the Civil Engineering Club, a resident assistant, a 2019 Homecoming duke, a math tutor, and a member of the Lights Cross Country team. He earned Academic All-Conference honors twice, was awarded the 2017 Champion of Character Award for Men's Cross Country, served as a field team leader for NASNTI summer research with Dr. Terri Hildebrand, and was selected to present a poster at the National Conference of Undergraduate Research, highlighting his research in the advanced fuels Lab with Dr. Randy Maglinao. His immediate plans are to travel back to his country, Kenya, to participate in a charity movement over the summer and then attend graduate school in the fall in material science and engineering. Amos has been accepted by both Stevens Institute of Technology and Montana Tech.