Montana State students and their mentors honored at 44th annual Founders Day Student Awards

BOZEMAN - Forty Montana State University students and their faculty or staff mentors were recognized at a luncheon held on Feb. 17 as part of the 44th annual Founders Day Student Awards.

Honored students were nominated by faculty in their colleges or departments. Qualified nominees must have at least a 3.0 GPA and demonstrated campus leadership and community service. Students each selected a mentor who was recognized with them at the event, which was hosted by the MSU Division of Student Success.

The 2026 award winners, listed by their college, name, major, hometown and mentor, are:

College of Agriculture

• Cody Johannes, animal science livestock management and industry, Worden. Mentor: Liz Greenfield.

• Grace Lerner, environmental science land rehabilitation, Taos, New Mexico. Mentor: Lisa Rew.

• Mandy Ly, microbiology, Kalispell. Mentor: Jovanka Voyich.

• Carly Jensen, microbiology, Billings. Mentor: Jovanka Voyich.

College of Arts and Architecture

• Emma Poole, graphic design, New Castle, Colorado. Mentor: William Culpepper.

• TJ Dubler, environmental design, Centennial, Colorado. Mentor: Jordan Zignego.

• Andi Humphrey, music education, Onalaska, Washington. Mentor: Katie Mess.

Jake Jabs College of Business and Entrepreneurship

• Damaris Addy, marketing and philosophy, Great Falls. Mentor: Nick Ross-Dick.

• Abi Grotbo, business accounting, Helena. Mentor: Mariah Stopplecamp.

• Tessa Hilleman, business management and aviation, Bozeman. Mentor: Marina Calabrese.

• Erin Lawrence, business marketing, Fargo, North Dakota. Mentor: Nicki Jimenez.

• Brendan Miller, business accounting, Helena. Mentor: Toby Blake.

College of Education, Health and Human Development

• Brooke Fatupaito, elementary education, Billings. Mentor: Ann Ellsworth.

• Harley Brittenham, nutrition and dietetics, Parker, Colorado. Mentors: Jessi Peterson and Wan-Yuan Kuo.

• Jillian Persicke, community health, Liberty Lake, Washington. Mentor: Joe Hicks.

Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering

• Tyler Gilman, mechanical engineering, Bozeman. Mentor: Teague Peck.

• Abigail Ross, mechanical engineering, Sandy, Utah. Mentor: Tom Jungst.

• Brenna Durbin, chemical engineering and mathematics, Fountain, Colorado. Mentor: Kate Morrissey.

• Alexander Ellingsen, computer science and data science, Spokane, Washington. Mentor: John Paxton.

• Alexandra Houseworth, electrical engineering and materials science, Kalispell. Mentor: Andy Lingley.

• Lauren Basye, environmental engineering, Gilbert, Arizona. Mentor: Dave Barnes.

• Liv Reich, biomedical engineering, Ojai, California. Mentor: Jeffrey Heys.

College of Letters and Science

• Chloe Abraham, criminology and psychology, Twin Valley, Minnesota. Mentor: Cody Warner.

• Loralei Dawson, earth sciences - geography, Arroyo Grande, California. Mentor: Elizabeth Nelson.

• Caleb Jackson, history - teaching, Billings. Mentor: Josh Meyer.

• Derek Jollie, mathematics and physics, Butte. Mentor: Scott McCalla.

• Kirstin Jones, liberal studies, Bozeman. Mentor: Molly Lammers.

• Lukas Kosel, English - writing and history, Roberts. Mentor: Gretchen Minton.

• Medora Perkins, political science and Hispanic studies, Sheridan, Wyoming. Mentor: Sara Rushing.

Mark and Robyn Jones College of Nursing

• Livia Cole, nursing, West Newbury, Massachusetts. Mentor: Jordan Bell Teller.

• Grace Ludewig, nursing, Missoula. Mentor: Brandi Farnes.

• Catherine Rangel, nursing, Great Falls. Mentor: Tami Creek.

Gallatin College MSU

• Ana Paz-Pilsch, hospitality, Bozeman. Mentor: Brent Lloyd.

• Katlyn Sampson, aviation, Morgan, Utah. Mentor: Axel Hattrup.

The Graduate School

• Carrie Ashe, adult and higher education, Bozeman. Mentor: Carrie Myers.

• Monique Summers, family nurse practitioner, Billings. Mentors: Jennifer Sofie and Jordan Bell Teller.

At-large category (students nominated by university staff)

• Tyler Cook, sociology, Helena. Mentor: Colter Ellis.

• Sophia Seffrood, mechanical engineering, Milbank, South Dakota. Mentor: Dilpreet Bajwa.
• Robert Shane, Jr., English teaching, Hardin. Mentor: Will Fassbender.
• Rey Yager, computer science and English, Manhattan. Mentor: Molly Iversen.