Montana Tech Announces Outstanding Student Awards for 2020 and 2021

Montana Tech announced this week student honors for its graduating classes of 2020 and 2021. Valedictorian honors are awarded for academic excellence to attain the applied science degree and the bachelor of science degree. The bachelor of science valedictorian award is given to the graduating senior at Montana Tech who has achieved the highest grade point average overall in his or her years of study at the university. The recipient must receive his or her first baccalaureate degree and have earned all academic credits at Montana Tech. The 2020 valedictorians are Annika Rapp, Business and Information Technology, Butte, Montana; Rachel Hadley, Geophysical Engineering, from Dayton, Nevada; and Nathaniel Younk, Petroleum Engineering, from Richmond, Michigan. The 2021 valedictorians are Camille McEwen, Biological Sciences, from Butte, Montana; Michaela Cortright, Business and Information Technology, from Anaconda, Montana; and Rayce McCord, Electrical Engineering, from Molt, Montana.

The associate of applied science valedictorian award is given to the graduate who has achieved the highest grade point average overall in his or her years of study toward a first associate of applied science degree. The recipient must have earned all academic credits at Montana Tech. The 2020 associate of applied science valedictorian is Kyeli Ostler, Radiologic Technology, from White Hall, Montana. The associate of applied science valedictorians for 2021 are Haley Frey, Metals Fabrication, from Darby, Montana; and Samantha Krzan, Medical Assistant, from Butte, Montana.

The university also awarded the 2020 Highest Scholastic Standing in the Arts & Sciences Award to Annika Rapp, Business & Information Technology, Butte, Montana. The 2021 Award went to Camille McEwen, Biological Sciences, Butte, Montana; and Michaela Cortright, Business & Information Technology, Anaconda, Montana.

Montana Tech also announced the recipients of the Chester H. Steele Honor Awards. The Chester H. Steele Honor Award is given to recognize the outstanding graduating senior or seniors in engineering with the highest scholastic achievement. The 2020 awardees are Rachel Hadley, Geophysical Engineering, from Dayton, Nevada; and Nathaniel Younk, Petroleum Engineering, from Richmond, Michigan. The 2021 recipient is Rayce McCord, Electrical Engineering, from Molt, Montana.

The second Chester H. Steele Award is presented to an outstanding graduate in mining/geology selected based on scholastic achievement. The 2020 awardee is Connor Hickman, Mining Engineering, from Spokane, Washington. The 2021 award goes to Ethan Steffen, Mining Engineering, from Denver, Colorado.

The Montana Society of Engineers also announced the recipients of the 2020 and 2021 Gold Medal Award. For nearly 100 years, the Montana Society of Engineers has presented an outstanding senior graduating in engineering from Montana Tech with the award. The 2020 awardee is Ashton Cummings, Environmental Engineering, from Great Falls, MT. The 2021 awardee is Madison Akers, Mining Engineering, from Homer, Alaska.