Dixon
Dixon, MT · Education
NBCMontana
Montana's top high school rodeo athletes compete for state titles in Kalispell
KALISPELL, Mont. — The state's top young rodeo athletes gathered in Kalispell this week for the Montana High School Rodeo Association Finals. "There's kids from all over the state coming and competing together and it's just so fun to have such great competition, such a great organization, and to be able to run like this is super fun," said rider Mackenzie Martell from Three Forks.
Char-Koosta News
"Control the mindset; control the outcome": Polson Class of 2026 Graduates
POLSON — Surrounded by family, friends and a sense of accomplishment, the Polson High School Class of 2026 celebrated its graduation with music, speeches and traditions honoring the achievements of its 103 graduates. The ceremony opened with a performance of “Pomp and Circumstance” by the Polson High School bands as seniors made their way into the venue.
Char-Koosta News
Salish Kootenai College celebrates Class of 2026 graduates
PABLO, Mont. — Hundreds of people filled the Joe McDonald Gym on June 6 for the 46th annual commencement ceremony at Salish Kootenai College (SKC). Intricately decorated caps and gowns, along with traditional clothing worn by graduates, reflected pride in culture and community as more than 200 degrees and certificates were awarded.
Lake County Leader
Community-focused Polson senior earns leadership award
Polson High School senior, Emma Boogerd, was recently awarded the Winslow Nichols Leadership Award for her “extraordinary initiative, organization and leadership across every aspect of her school and community life.”. Boogerd is a dedicated Polson student who is involved in Links Crew, an upperclassman guidance group, and Polson DECA,...
Lake County Leader
Polson High grads advised to "brave the waves"
Polson seniors marched in from all corners of Linderman Gym Saturday and took their seats. The “National Anthem” and an honor song by the Badger Tail Drum set the tone for commencement. The event was emceed by seniors Josie Henriksen and Ruger Ellis. Student Council president David DiGiallonardo delivered the senior speech. “Sometimes courage is simply showing up,” DiGiallanardo said. “We’ve all had challenges, setbacks, and losses during our high school years.” Encouraging classmates to set new goals, take risks and reach personal goals, DiGiallonardo said, “Life is learning to handle the waves, to be resilient enough to adapt to the waves” and advised, “As we all head forward, brave the waves.” Keeping their remarks short and geared to their classmates, co-valedictorians Ruger Ellis, Cody Haggard, Parker Hendrickson, and Brody Kline each took turns at the microphone. Quoting John Lennon’s “Beautiful Boy” song, Ellis said, “Life is what happens while you make other plans.” In high school, students spent too much time worrying about senior projects, grade point averages, and fitting in, he said. “We doubted ourselves, but I helped lead our boys soccer team to its first state championship,” Ellis said. “This room is full of resilience; life is
Bigfork Eagle
PHOTOS: Bigfork Class of 2026 graduation day
Bigfork High School's Class of 2026 celebrates graduation day on Saturday, June 6. Bigfork graduates heading for their seats with their own trademark style. Steve Mitchell A happy Holland Jantzen after receiving his diploma at Bigfork High School's graduation ceremony. Steve Michell These two grads feature honors and a distinct choice of footware at Bigfork's 2026 graduation. Steve Mitchell The Bigfork processional featured a paior students with various honors, including for one of them, admission to the United States Air Force Academy. Steve Mitchell Senior President Jack Lucke gives the signal to toss 'em at Bigfork's 2026 graduation. Steve Mitchell After receiving her diploma a celebratory flip of the hair seems appropriate. Steve Mitchell A diploma is displayed with pride at the Bigfork High School 2026 graduation. Steve Mitchell After the ceremony graduates, family, and friends gathered in front of the school for photo's. Steve Mitchell A valedictorian honor student gives a speech for the Bigfork High School 2026 graduation. Steve Michell A valedictorian honor student gives a speech for the Bigfork High School 2026 graduation. Steve Michell A valedictorian at Bigfork High School's 2026 graduation was pretty in pink. Steve Michell Several of Bigfork's graduates chose to opt for
Whitefish Pilot
"Let go and just live": Whitefish High School celebrates 112th commencement
Whitefish High School graduated 143 seniors in its class of 2026 on Saturday, June 6. Seniors Lavena James and Unity Loveless gave introductory remarks at the 112th commencement, noting that 11 students maintained 4.0 GPAs and 36 students earned local scholarships. Many graduates will enter the workforce or pursue further education. A dozen will be college athletes. One graduate will enter the armed forces. Loveless said the class of 2026 is highly motivated. In their senior year, speech and debate claimed a state title and the DECA team sent 18 to nationals. The boys soccer team finished second at state. Football advanced to the semifinals, volleyball finished second in the conference, and girls golf placed second at state. Swimming did well at state and wrestling had divisional titles. Boys and girls tennis swept the state team titles. Track and field sent 23 to state and the baseball team tied for third in the state tournament. Twenty choir students participated at the state music festival where they earned 10 superior ratings. Choir has 21 seniors, who sang “The Rainbow Connection” at graduation. Orchestra earned 13 and band 35 superior ratings at the state music festival. For their last song, 13 orchestra
Flathead Beacon
Methamphetamine Contamination Shutters Doors of Trego Elementary School
At Trego Elementary School, school board records show a January request from a teacher to rent out a property on school grounds — commonly referred to as the “teacherage” — ended in the school’s closure for the last month of the year, as the K-8 district with roughly a dozen students has spent the spring grappling with revelations that the property and the school’s library tested at elevated levels of methamphetamine contamination.
Whitefish Pilot
Photos: Whitefish High musicians play 2026 spring concert
Whitefish High School band and orchestra had a phenomenal spring concert on Tuesday, June 2, to close out a great year of music. To begin, wind ensemble played “Mother Earth” and “Pixar Movie Magic.” Camerata played “Fiddle Frenzy” and “Ode to Teenage Travels;” the latter is a piece composed by senior student Lillian Nelson. To conclude, symphony orchestra performed “Romeo and Juliet Overture” and “An American in Paris Suite.” Directors Matthew King and Summer Boggess said farewell to seniors Lovey Gallagher, Solvei Gunderson, Logan Hyland, Syrcie Johnson, Scarlet Burke, Nora Ide, Taylor Dorvall, Koru Larimore, Lillian Nelson, Johanna Perkins, Brynn McDonald, Kenny Stone, Holly Walker, Connor Cornutt, Ryan Glick, Ella Idleman, Allison Ponti, Anna Guzman, Paige Sebby, Bjorn Bungener, Guinevere Tomblin, Maren Cromie, Clare Helmstetler, Kiley Ohs and Emaline Whithed. Trombone player Bjorn Bungener achieved every accolade: Flathead Valley Youth Symphony Musician, All State Musician, All State Jazz Musician, and Montana Youth Symphony Musician. Senior Scarlet Burke, principal viola, at the Whitefish High School spring concert June 2. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot) Band members stand to applause from the crowd at the Whitefish High School spring concert on June 2. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot) Senior violinist Syrcie Johnson at the WHS spring
Whitefish Pilot
Whitefish graduate has ripple effect through positivity
Whitefish High School class of 2026 graduate Unity Loveless already crossed the stage and emceed the commencement ceremony on Saturday, but her impact will continue to spread positivity long after graduation day. “I would tell freshman to do everything they can – join every club, go to every dance,” Loveless said. “And also, just to talk to everyone. High school is so much more fun when you’re friends with everyone.” Loveless plans to double major in political science and education with a minor in Spanish at Montana State University. She said she’s always wanted to be a teacher but has become more drawn to politics in recent years. “It’s really important to have younger people in government, with new perspectives,” she said. Loveless grew as an individual throughout high school to become a leader on the school’s speech and debate team, earning Coach Sara Mueller’s student of the year accolade. Loveless was one of 30 students from across the nation to serve on the National Speech and Debate Association Student Leadership Council this year. As the Montana director of outreach, she worked to bring debate resources and representation to rural communities across the state. In the Flathead Valley, Loveless teamed
NBCMontana
Kalispell teacher named Montana History Teacher of the Year
MISSOULA, Mont. — Kristopher Schreiner, a history teacher at Kalispell Middle School, has been named the 2026 Centennial Bell Montana History Teacher of the Year. Schreiner, who has taught Montana history at the school for 18 years, was unanimously selected by the awards committee. Committee members cited the breadth of his curriculum, hands-on learning opportunities and dedication to helping students connect with Montana's history.
hilinetoday.com
Kalispell Educator is Centennial Bell History Teacher of the Year
Helena, MT — Kristopher Schreiner, a history teacher at Kalispell Middle School, has been awarded the 2026 Centennial Bell Montana History Teacher of the Year Award. Schreiner was unanimously selected by the awards committee, which praised the scope of his curriculum, the range of hands-on learning opportunities he provides, and his commitment to fostering “a lasting connection between his students and the place they call home.”
Char-Koosta News
Turning Tassels and Chasing Dreams
RONAN — Guided by the Class of 2026 motto, “Take chances, make mistakes and get messy,” by Ms. Frizzle, 92 Ronan High School seniors crossed the graduation stage Sunday, celebrating years of hard work while embracing the uncertainty and opportunity that await them beyond high school. The...
NBCMontana
Kalispell schools announce new board members, student representative
KALISPELL, Mont. — Kalispell Public Schools has announced its newest school board members, along with their first student representative. Rich Terrett, Brian Putnam, and Tom Hollo were selected to serve on the Board of Trustees, bringing experience in military service, engineering, public service, and law. The district also named...
The Western News
Libby, Troy celebrates its 2026 high school graduates
Libby and Troy celebrated its respective classes of 2026 during separate high school graduation ceremonies Sunday, May 31. Inclement weather forced Troy to move its graduation to the Troy Activity Center. Libby held its traditional ceremony in the middle high school. Libby saw three seniors achieve Valedictorian honors, including Tristan Andersen, Ashlenn James and Teague Thompson. Troy's Valedictorian was Jaylee Meyers. Libby's class Salutatorian was Ashley Cockerham while Trevor Guinard earned the distinction at Troy. They all spoke at their respective ceremonies. Libby's Middle High School band, led by director Patrick Lewis, and the high school concert choir, directed by Cara Lewis, each performed. Libby's commencement speaker was Ryan Nourse, a Class of 1990 graduate, who has been the head football coach at Montana Western in Dillon. He completed his 12th season as head coach at Montana Western in 2025 and has a 71-48 all-time record. He is the winningest coach in UMW history and has the second longest tenure. Libby Superintendent Ron Goodman and Principal Scott Beagle presented the graduates while Board of Trustees' Alida Snow presented the diplomas. At Troy, Milo Rogers was the guest speaker and he delivered a heart-felt recollection about many of the students he's
Bigfork Eagle
‘He’s a rare kid’: Bigfork senior chases air force dreams for a decade
Nic Gustavson has a photograph of the moment he realized what he wanted to do with the rest of his life. In the image, he’s in the third grade and salutes the camera, with the gleaming silver points of the futuristic looking Air Force Academy Chapel and peaks of Colorado’s Front Range behind him. At the ripe old age of 8, Gustavson knew he wanted to fly planes, and he knew he wanted to fly planes with the U.S. Air Force. Never mind that the Air Force Academy has an acceptance rate of just 14% or that the application process is far more grueling than that of the typical university; Gustavson had a goal, and for the next 10 years he pursued it with a single-minded determination. At the end of January, Gustavson was accepted to the Air Force Academy, fulfilling his life-long dream. “It feels pretty gratifying,” Gustavson said. “All that work and all the years of classes and everything I’ve been doing ... to finally make it, it’s just a weird feeling. It feels good, but it doesn’t feel real.” Gustavson graduates with the Bigfork High School class of 2026 on June 6 before heading to Colorado at
Whitefish Pilot
Whitefish School District searching for new middle school principal
The Whitefish School District opened applications for a new Whitefish Middle School principal after the school board approved the hire of current principal Josh Branstetter for the role of assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction. The board this spring updated the description of the assistant superintendent position to make it more fitting for assistant administrative duties. Previously, the role was called the director of curriculum and instruction. Lisa Bloom was in that role but was hired as interim superintendent last month, as current Superintendent Dave Means is retiring. Branstetter has been the middle school principal since 2012. "It has been a privilege to serve this district for the past 25 years as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal of Whitefish Middle School," Branstetter said. "In this new position, I look forward to building upon our district's success, capitalizing on the positive relationships formed over the years, and working alongside interim superintendent Lisa Bloom to continue our forward momentum for all our Whitefish students." The district will see further leadership changes this fall as Muldown Elementary welcomes Jennifer Santora as its new principal. At a May 26 special meeting, the board also proposed a renewed 2026-2031 transportation contract, intended for Rocky
Lake County Leader
Personal goodbyes: Charlo celebrates class of 2026
The Charlo class of 2026 walked across the stage on Sunday, May 31, and proudly held up their diplomas for the crowd to see. In this small, tight-knit community with 22 graduates, this moment was a personal celebration and a personal goodbye for the seniors, who depended on their classmates, community and teachers to support them through the journey. Salutatorian Madison Harris kicked off graduation with her speech, reminiscing on the memories she made at Charlo High School. “Most of my favorite memories were definitely from sports, like beating Drummond and winning against Lincoln individuals, messing around with friends after track events, and just being around the people who made sports worth being there,” Harris said. Harris said she’ll miss Charlo and even the teachers who complained about their absences. She added that the class has learned a lot over the years, including how to write an essay the night before it's due. “Most of us have grown up together. We have all laughed together and made memories that we've carried forever, even if we forgot everything that we learned in algebra. I'm so glad that we've got to share this really chaotic experience together,” she said. In her speech,