BOZEMAN — Eleven Montana State University students spent the academic year serving on the boards of Gallatin Valley nonprofit organizations as part of the MSU Leadership Institute’s Boardroom Bobcats mentorship program, which is wrapping up its eighth year fostering leadership and community engagement among students. 

For a full academic year, Boardroom Bobcats students serve as non-voting board members for local nonprofits. In addition to attending regular board meetings, the students undertake projects and participate in professional development trainings hosted by the MSU Leadership Institute and aimed at developing lifelong leadership skills. The program offers students experience in the nonprofit sector and opportunities to develop relationships with mentors, promoting a spirit of community engagement and service. 

Participants, along with their major, hometown and the nonprofit they were paired with, are listed below: 

• Jack Evans — Business management/administration; Redmond, Washington; Sacajawea Audubon Society. 
• Ella Horgan — Microbiology, environmental health with a minor in entomology; Minneapolis; Montana Mindfulness Project. 
• Hope McWilliams — Cell biology and neuroscience with a minor in astrobiology; Hayden, Idaho; We are HER. 
• Kelly Nicholson — Environmental studies; Griffin, Georgia; Intermountain Opera.
• Naomi Ohman — Directed interdisciplinary studies: film, journalism, public humanities; Long Lake, Minnesota; Bienvenidos a Gallatin Valley. 
• Jonah Pate — Business management with a minor in entrepreneurship and small business; Kalispell; Warriors and Quiet Waters. 
• Grace Roemig — Mechanical engineering with a minor in China studies; Minnetonka, Minnesota; Bozeman Film Society. 
• Isabela Romero — Clinical mental health counseling; Lima, Peru; Bridgercare. 
• Sarah Salam — Public administration; Tacoma, Washington; Gallatin Watershed Council. 
• Bridger Sellegran — Public administration; Bozeman; Montana Freshwater Partners. 
• Aimee Walsh — Industrial and management systems engineering; Anacortes, Washington; Big Brothers Big Sisters of Big Sky Country. 

The Boardroom Bobcats program debuted in 2016 with support from a $5,000 seed grant from MSU’s Outreach and Engagement Council. For more information about the program, visit www.montana.edu/leadership/boardroombobcats.html.  

MSU students who are interested in serving as a Boardroom Bobcat during the 2023-2024 academic year are encouraged to fill out an application before the deadline on May 5 at 5 p.m. Applications are available at www.montana.edu/leadership.