Photos.Rocky.edu : Alumni & Friends : Alumni Events

Alumni Events Galleries

02-11-10 Candlelight Dinner :

02-11-10 Candlelight Dinner

06-19-09 Alumni Golf :

06-19-09 Alumni Golf

02-12-09 Candlelight Dinner : Candles burned brightly as more than 100 people held them as they sang Rocky Mountain College’s Alma Mater during the centennial celebration of the annual Candlelight Dinner.

The 100th anniversary of the tradition of the first meal shared on campus was also occasion to honor Ron Sovey, RMC ’65, with the Outstanding Alumni Award, and Dr. Lawrence Small, with the Distinguished Service Award. Both men exemplified the legacy of those who, from the first day of the College to the present day, demonstrate faithful friendship and generous support.

Mr. Sovey, who serves on the Board of Trustees, was unable to attend due to family health related problems, but Myron Vogele, a classmate of Mr. Sovey’s, accepted the award on his behalf.

Mr. Sovey was honored for demonstrating his devotion and admiration for Rocky Mountain College in a number of ways. First by showing how the education he received helped him in his career. He is retired from John Deere International where he was the Director of Wage Administration, establishing all the wages for John Deere in North America.

Second, Mr. Sovey honored RMC by helping to establish the Larry Pretty  Weasel Endowed Scholarship. He made a very generous donation to that  scholarship to acknowledge his good friend from college, but also to help future students who he knows will benefit from an RMC education.

Third, he honored his college by making a 10-year pledge to the RMC Annual Fund and by joining the RMC Quarter Back Club to support RMC football.  

Fourth, his service to RMC, which  includes membership on the Board of Trustees and the Alumni Association, has been loyal and long.

While he could not attend the dinner, Mr. Sovey sent along his thoughts about his devotion and commitment to Rocky, which is refreshed whenever he is on campus.

“It has always been a pretty campus, one I enjoyed looking down on from the rims as a student,” he said.

The preservation of the historic sandstone buildings has been rewarding as he served as a trustee.   He recalled how close the Rocky students were when he attended and is glad that friendship endures today. In 1961-65, he played second base for  the Rocky baseball team and went to nationals his senior year. Those teammates still stay in touch, he said.

Mr. Sovey also said he regretted not being able to attend because he especially wanted to be here when Dr. Small was honored. In his absence,

President Mace introduced Dr. Small, “one of the College’s most distinguished advocates.”

Noting that he considered Dr. Small a special comrade in arms, since they both served as president of the College. President Mace said he valued Dr. Small’s "advice and counsel, and humor and wit."

Dr. Small came to RMC in 1959 as a professor, and was named president in 1966. He served as president until 1975 when he returned to teaching, retiring in 1990. He served from 1984-1990 as executive director for the Montana Association of Churches. He was also founder and chair of the RMC Institute for Peace Studies. He was a leader in the “Not in Our Town” campaign to fight racism, from which the Institute and its annual Festival of Cultures grew.

In addition to other books, Dr. Small authored the two-volume college history, "Courageous Journey," and "Pathways to the Present." He is Rocky’s institutional history in the flesh.

“He and his wife, Elfie, are enthusiasts for all things Rocky. It is a pleasure to see them at the concerts, at lectures and receptions on campus. They bring special warmth to those occasions,” President Mace concluded.

Also speaking at the 100th Candlelight was RMC alumni Rod Svee, who is also a member of the RMC Board of Directors and president of the RMC Alumni Association, and Matthew Prasch, the president of the Associated Students of RMC.

Entertainment was provided by RMC students, Ellen Moak, a sophomore majoring in music/anthropology, from Billings, Mont.; Christa Salomon, a junior majoring in music performance/, from Ronan, Mont.; Heather Grotbo, a junior majoring in geology/art from Helena, Mont.; and Tien-Wei Hueng, a junior majoring in music performance, from Taipei, Taiwan.

02-12-09 Candlelight Dinner

10-04-08 Octoberfest :

10-04-08 Octoberfest

Alumni Golf 06-27-08 : Rocky golf tourney sets another record

The Rocky Mountain College Alumni Association’s eighth annual golf scramble, held at Peter Yegen Golf Course on Friday, June 27th, raised a record $3,400 for the Alumni Association Endowed Scholarship Fund. “This success was due to the participation of 59 golfers and 23 sponsors, including our Premier Sponsor, Carl Hansen D.A. Davidson & Co., Hansen Wealth Management,” said Heather Nitz, Director of Alumni and Parent Relations at Rocky Mountain College. “One of the things we pride ourselves most on at Rocky is the fact that we provide a quality education for a reasonable price, and we couldn’t do that without the support of generous alumni and donors. This event was another extraordinary show of support for our students, and a great day of golf for everyone who participated,” said Nitz.

Alumni Golf 06-27-08

50 Year Grads (May 2008) : Each years graduation celebration takes a few moments to celebrate the graduates of 50 years before. This years celebrations included dinner and a formal seating at Commencement. The following photographs were not shot by (Dave Shumway, RMC) they were captured by Heather Nitz and Patsy Rettig of the RMC development staff.

50 Year Grads (May 2008)

02-20-08 Candlelight Dinner :

02-20-08 Candlelight Dinner

01-29-08 Alumni Wine Tasting :

01-29-08 Alumni Wine Tasting

1970's Reunion :

06-15-07 Alumni Golf Tournement :

06-15-07 Alumni Golf Tournement

01-25-07 Candlelight Dinner :

01-25-07 Candlelight Dinner

Helena Candlelight Dinner : Photos by participants in the event. (the images are not available for sale)

SUCCESSFUL CANDLELIGHT IN HELENA

The Candlelight Dinner in Helena was held at the home of RMC’65 alum, Bob FitzGerald and his wife Pam Carlson.

It was notable for three reasons: (1) Gus, their three year old black lab ate the 30 candles two days before the dinner, forcing a replenishment of the candles and bringing about yet a new definition of “candlelight dinner,” (2) Rocky alum and candlelight dinner attendee Stephen Harper two weeks ago won the nationals in race walking for the 55-59 year old age group in San Francisco. Moreover, he placed 4th over all in all age groups, and (3) an hour before the dinner started, the Rocky’s Battling Bears Basketball Team advanced to the NAIA Final Four in Kansas City.

What an auspicious trifecta for the Helena Candlelight Dinner.

Attendees included Rusty Harper, brother Steve Harper, John Paulson, Rev. George and Dorothy Harper, Randy Fuhrman, Jerry Fox, David and Judy Nielsen, Larry Stanley, Ben Johns, RMC President Mike Mace, Ruth and Jesse Long, RMC Admissions Counselor Scott Kuntz and two potential students and their parents. Rev. Cathy Barker was to attend, but broke her leg and couldn’t. She was missed. We gorged and blissfully went on our way home with thoughts of advancing to the Championship Final.

Helena Candlelight Dinner

© 2007-2009 Dave M. Shumway, RMC

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