Montana Tech celebrates spring commencement on May 10

BUTTE, MT – Montana Technological University is pleased to announce its 2025 commencement ceremonies, celebrating the achievements of its graduating students on Saturday, May 10, 2025, in the HPER Complex.

Two ceremonies will be held to honor the graduates with a reception to follow each ceremony in the Student Success Center:

• Morning Ceremony (10:00 AM): Honoring graduates from the Lance College of Mines and Engineering and the Graduate School.
• Afternoon Ceremony (1:00 PM): Honoring graduates from Highlands College and the College of Letters, Sciences, & Professional Studies

This year, Montana Tech will award approximately 374 degrees and certificates to 347 accomplished students. The commencement addresses will be delivered by distinguished Montana Tech alumnus Ryan Lance, the chairman and chief executive officer of ConocoPhillips.

Ryan is a petroleum engineer with four decades of oil and natural gas industry experience in senior management and technical positions with ConocoPhillips, predecessor Phillips Petroleum and various divisions of ARCO. His past ConocoPhillips executive assignments included responsibility for international exploration and production, regional responsibility at various times for Asia, Africa, the Middle East and North America, and responsibility for technology, major projects, downstream strategy, integration and specialty functions.

Externally, Ryan is a board member of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and a trustee of both the George and Barbara Bush Foundation and PGA Reach. He is also an advocate for charities benefiting youth through his service on the board of Spindletop International. He is former chairman of the American Petroleum Institute currently serving on its Executive Committee, and currently vice chair of the National Petroleum Council and on the Business Roundtable Board.

Ryan is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in petroleum engineering from Montana Technological University in Butte in 1984.

The student speaker will be Cody Skibsted. A Montana native with a strong foundation in electrical systems, Cody Skibsted served six years in the U.S. Navy maintaining combat aircraft. Transitioning to civilian life, he worked on firefighting air tankers in Missoula before leveraging his extensive aircraft electrical expertise to pursue a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering (Spring 2025) and master's degrees in electrical engineering and project engineering and management (in progress) at Montana Tech. Outside of his academic pursuits, Cody and his wife enjoy time on the river and connecting with family and friends.

Leading up to Commencement, the following events will take place:

• Chancellor’s Reception for Graduates: Friday, May 9, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM, Student Success Center (for graduates and their families).
• Line Rodeo: Friday, May 9, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM, Pole Yard, Highlands College.
• Order of the Engineer Ceremony: Friday, May 9, 5:00 PM, Library Auditorium.
• Sherry Lesar School of Nursing Pinning Ceremony: Saturday, May 10, 8:30 AM, Library Auditorium (23 BSN students). This ceremony marks the official welcome of new graduates into the nursing profession.

For those unable to attend, the Commencement ceremonies will be streamed live on Montana Tech’s YouTube page. Further details about commencement can be found at: https://www.mtech.edu/academics/services/enrollment/commencement/