Montana’s Student Assistance Foundation (SAF) Awards $115,000 in Circle of Succe$$ Grants

Child care. Gasoline. Rent. These are just a few of the items Montana students will pay for using $115,000 in Circle of Succe$$ grant funds awarded in January by nonprofit Student Assistance Foundation (SAF) http://www.safmt.org .

This marks the third year SAF employees contributed money through payroll deductions to help Montana students continue their postsecondary education through the grant program, formerly known as the Acce$$ Circle grant program. Funds raised from last summer’s SAF Golf Scramble and Excursion also contributed to the total grant amount.

Between the two efforts, SAF collected enough money to distribute 115, $1,000 grants to students from communities throughout the state.

Tess Hatfield, a junior at Montana State University – Billings, was one of the grant recipients. In her application, she explained that the Circle of Succe$$ grant money would provide some relief in her busy schedule, which includes working part time, participating in student government and studying psychology.

“Growing up in a single parent household, my mother showed me the value of a postsecondary education,” Hatfield wrote. “I feel that with aid I can go forward, debt free, as a productive graduate, and help the community that I love.”

Stephanie (Nikki) Hawe, who is attending school at The University of Montana Western in Dillon, said the grant she received will go a long way to helping her maintain her 4.0 GPA in Secondary Education – English.

“Please know that your donation has made it possible for me to work toward continuing my education so that I can share my knowledge with young minds,” she wrote, adding that she will mark the fourth generation in her family to teach in Montana.

Marti Johnson, grants manager for SAF, said the committee charged with evaluating the applications was greatly affected by the stories of all the grant applicants — a fact that made it particularly difficult to narrow the field and select who should benefit from the available funds.

“It’s our privilege to provide these grants to students to help them on their path to achieving their dreams of college education,” she said. “We’re so pleased that the program continues to grow every year, allowing us to have a greater role in educating Montana’s youth.”

Student Assistance Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Montana corporation that provides students with knowledge and tools to finance and pursue their postsecondary education. Funds generated by SAF are returned to Montanans in the form of education grants and public benefit programs – to date more than $10 million. For more information, visit http://www.SmartAboutCollege.org or http://www.safmt.org.

Grant Recipients by County

Beaverhead

Stephanie (Nikki) Hawe

Steven Hilton

Mitchell Jessen

Big Horn

Patricia Eastman

Wes Spotted Bear

Blaine

Chelsea McCann

Sherry Bishop

Butte/Silver Bow

Megan Schneiter

Jodi Bartscher

Stephanie Ouellette

Brandon Warner

Elisabeth Fandrich

Stephanie Gruss

Tammy Gordon

Carter

Merle Kalstrom

Tandi Schneider

Cascade

Denice Neumann

Tavie Bunker

Danyelle Long

Nicole Stafford

Deanna Montgomery

Choteau

Jenny Silvan

Andrea Juedeman

Custer

Ronda Fuhrman

Katherine Hosbein

Dawson

Daniel Dutton

Jamey Pettersen

Deer Lodge

Jessica Ostrom

Christopher Seymour

Fergus

Jennifer Hicks

Candice Rodriguez

Flathead

Heather Hines

Leslie Farrell

Bryan Lamm

Ashley Hallett

Aaron Hove

Ashley McCurdy

Alia Albertowicz

Kristin Karpinski

Gallatin

Jennifer Holfeld

Cory Talbott

Jordan Pratt

Sarah Nordlund

Glacier

Angela Bacon

Janet Preuss

Jerci Powell

Marcia St. Goddard

Deanne Morris

Shelley Bohannon-Vielle

Hill

Tyler Crossley

Sunny Whalawitsa

Cody McLean

Melinda Morrison

Louann LaSalle

Sarina Eckman

Jefferson

Kristen Clements

Dorothy Sizemore

Lake

Jennifer Lossing

Christine McKenzie

LeEllen McLeod

Sonja Heutmaker

Lewis and Clark

Jessica Nakagawa

Amee Schwitters

Taylor Robinson

Jeremy Hovden

Cyrus Malkin

Lincoln County

Nichole Anderson

Emma Simuns

Madison

Nate Lester

McCone

Bryce Hove

Brittany Hove

Missoula

Cody Schliebe

Zara Hanson

Jonathan Warner

Stacey McClure

Haylee Linville

Chelsea Choat

Jessica Finley

Chandra Moles

Park

Mariah Rees

Petroleum County

Chelsea McKenna

Phillips

Stella Ereaux

Pondera

Charla Tordale-Gilbert

Melissa Habets

Powell

Kara Janes

Ravalli

Melissa Ireland

Roosevelt

Carl Failing

Michelle Hove

Rosebud

Sarah Sommerfeld

Sanders

Jackie Perrin

Sheridan

Benjamin Urdahl

Sandi Nelson

Stillwater

Emily Cossitt

Joseph Studiner

Teton

Teresa Turville

Stephanie Wagner

Amanda Dutton

Christopher Tacke

Michael Adams

Jordan Ratliff

Toole

Adam Wabeke

Janna Tomsheck

Cherry Tomsheck

Valley

Kara Reigel

Wibaux

Allyssa Harrell

Yellowstone

Deborah Hassan

Tess Hatfield

Michele Harkness

Julie Jeffers

Joel Traywick

Angela Cravens

Bonnie Nees

Laura Thompson

Carrie Wallace

Lorin Granger