University Communications and Marketing

March 9, 2016

The annual dinner gala will be held March 18 at the Hilton Garden Inn beginning at 6 p.m.

Contacts:

Sarah Brockel, Alumni Relations, 247-5780
University Relations & Communications, 657-2266

MSU BILLINGS NEWS SERVICES — Montana State University Billings Alumni Association will honor seven of its leading graduates during the 34th annual Outstanding Alumni Awards at the Hilton Garden Inn.

The alumni awards event is set for Friday, March 18, at 6 p.m. and recognizes the accomplishments of alumni who have used their education to excel professionally, provide inspirational leadership to others and provide service for the benefit of MSUB and their communities. 

Outstanding alumni are recognized in four categories: 

1. Distinguished Alumnus/a: Honors an alumnus/a who has distinguished himself or herself through personal, professional and civic contributions, while bringing a sense of honor, pride, and recognition to the University community. 
2. Alumni Merit Medallion: Honors an alumnus who is dedicated to the advancement of education, exemplified by his or her commitment of professional expertise, and/or volunteer service to Montana State University Billings. 
3. Recognition for Exceptional Achievement: Honors two alumni who have distinguished themselves in fields ranging from business, professional, education, volunteer service to a community, public or civil service, or arts and sciences having impacted those fields while bringing a sense of pride and recognition to the University community. 
4. Ronald P. Sexton Award for Professional Commitment:  The Ronald P. Sexton Award for Professional Commitment was created to honor alumni who dedicate their professional lives as employees of Montana State University Billings. This award will be given from time to time to an alumna or alumnus who has dedicated 10 or more total years of her or his career to MSU Billings and has significantly contributed to the advancement of the University. Recipients of this award will have emulated Chancellor Sexton’s passionate commitment to access, excellence, and student success.

Past recipients of these awards have included alumni who have exhibited unusual courage, creativity, perseverance, originality of competency in their chosen field; raised the quality of life for others; contributed to and promoted the advancement of higher education; or distinguished themselves as leaders in their profession or area of interest. 

This year’s recipients are:

Paul Husted, Distinguished Alumnus. Husted received his bachelor’s degree in secondary education from then Eastern Montana College in 1976 and a master’s degree in special education in 1979. He has devoted most of his career to Edward Jones, where he is recognized in the organization as a corporate and industry leader as well as an influential leader in the investment industry in Montana. One of the most accomplished advisors in the history of Edward Jones, Husted has received top recognitions for his leadership and company contributions. Husted has served on many boards and supported fundraising events in the Great Falls area and has partnered with Compassion International on numerous projects for more than 25 years. Husted and his wife, Lori, live in Great Falls, Mont., and are the proud parents of Erin Husted, Anna Husted and Jordan Husted.

Carl Ueland, Merit Medallion Award.  A native of Butte, Mont., Ueland ran track and cross country while pursuing his bachelor’s degree in biology and a minor in chemistry at then Eastern Montana College, graduating in 1971. Ueland applied his knowledge and experience gained as a student in partnering in a startup business, Actagro LLC. While at Actagro, he developed a new and innovative liquid fertilizer compound to improve efficiency with application on numerous crops and vegetables.  His focus was on improving agriculture techniques, not only in fertilizer efficiency, but in other agriculture products and inputs with the purpose of restoring soil health.  A pioneer in modern-day agriculture, a notable achievement for Ueland was developing a patent on a widely used fungicide. Ueland retired in 2013, but still serves on the board of directors for Actagro, LLC. He is married to Barb and they make their home in Fresno, Calif.

Kim Kaiser, Recognition for Exceptional Achievement. Kaiser graduated from MSU Billings in 2000 with her bachelor’s degree in health promotion. She has carved her niche as a nonprofit veteran of healthcare in Billings.  Kaiser has 20 years of nonprofit and foundation experience, currently serving as CEO of Billings Family YMCA.  Prior to this position, she led multimillion dollar fundraising efforts as Senior Advisor of Major Gifts and Campaign for St. Vincent Healthcare Foundation and as Executive Director of RiverStone Health Foundation. Kaiser’s dedication to the healthcare field carries through all areas of her and the areas she gives her time to are centered on health, community, and family. Kaiser was born and raised in Billings. She married Chris in 1993 and they have two children, Tyler and Rylie.

Stacy Klippenstein, Recognition for Exceptional Achievement. Klippenstein pursued his undergraduate and graduate degrees at MSUB, then-EMC, receiving a bachelor’s in secondary education in 1990 and a master’s in education, self-design, student affairs administration, in 1994.  A dynamic student leader, he worked as a resident assistant and in student government, moving up the student affairs ladder into numerous roles. Dedicated to higher education, Klippenstein has spent his career in various roles within the areas of housing and student life, to vice chancellor for student affairs and most recently, president.  He received his doctorate in higher education leadership and currently serves as the President of Miles Community College.  Klippenstein’s work and dedication has garnered national attention and positioned him as a leader and expert in the field of student affairs. Prior to Miles Community College, Klippenstein worked at Texas Tech, Northern Arizona, MSUB, and Central Washington Universities. Klippenstein met his wife, Carrie, as an undergrad at EMC. They have two sons, Steven and Ty.

Joel Simpson, Exceptional Achievement. Simpson graduated with both an associate degree and bachelor’s degree in rehabilitation and related services in 2011 from MSUB.  He received a master’s degree in social work in 2014 from Walla Walla University. After receiving his master’s degree, he began using his education to assist serial inebriates, Indigenous peoples, and the homeless get the treatment they need to overcome drug and alcohol dependence in downtown Billings. A social advocate, Simpson is changing the lives of those affected by addiction and changing awareness and bias in the community as a whole, relying on his cultural background to reach out and build trust and rapport among people.  Simpson is a member of the Appsalooke Nation and belongs to a family of EMC/MSUB graduates.  

Julie McDade, Ronald P. Sexton Award for Professional Commitment. McDade earned her master’s degree in education with a reading option in 1980 from Eastern Montana College. Prior to becoming a Yellowjacket, she received her bachelor’s degree in speech communication from MSU in Bozeman in 1976.  A dedicated teacher since 1979, she has taught adults and college students for over 35 years, including language arts for 18 years at the Billings Adult Education Center, four years as an Instructor at EMC, and one year at MSUB.  In 1998, McDade was hired as a faculty member at then MSUB College of Technology, currently known as City College, where she continues to this day to teach numerous courses centered on the communications field. A life-long teacher, McDade has received numerous honors in recognition of her dedication to her profession and MSUB. McDade is married to Mark and they have a cat and two dogs and enjoy traveling.

Terrie Iverson, Ronald P. Sexton Award for Professional Commitment. In 1982, Iverson graduated from MSUB, then Eastern Montana College, with a bachelor’s degree in business administration with an accounting specialization. Iverson has a distinguished career spanning over 30 years at EMC/MSUB.  This tenure gives her vast institutional knowledge and makes her an asset to our institution, with a student-first focus. Iverson returned to her Yellowjacket roots in 1984 as a grants and contracts accountant. In her time at MSUB, she has served in the positions of general accounting supervisor and director of internal operations prior to becoming the vice chancellor for administration and finance. Iverson is married to Roland Iverson. Together they have a daughter, Dani (Tim) and granddaughter, Aspen, as well as sons Bryce (Kialy) and Brandon (Maggie).

For more information about the awards and the Alumni Association visit msubillings.edu/alumni/ or contact Sarah Brockel, Director of Alumni Relations, at 406-247-5780.