Vol. 2 Issue 4 Fresh news every day at www.rocky.edu April 2008Rocky Now: Keeping our friends and supporters informed about

what’s new and exciting at Rocky Mountain College

It’s all about our studentsThe Rocky Mountain College Development staff was

delighted to nominate Brandon Templeton for recognitionas StudentEmployee of theYear.

BrandonTempleton person-ifies the kind ofoutstanding stu-dent who excelsboth as a studentand as a memberof the RMC com-munity. He isexceptional in hiscommitment toexcellence,dependability,professionalism,and his approachto planning andproblem solving.Brandon is selfmotivated andalways finds work that needs to be done. Brandon offersideas as he brings a student perspective to the office andits work. Brandon willingly makes the effort to completeproject deadlines on short notice even if it means workingwhile on holiday at his home in Ohio. These projectsinclude using his photographic skills to showcase the cam-pus and its history on such important projects as prepar-ing the successful grant application for the J. Paul GettyFoundation. His interest in searching the college archivesand digitalizing old photos for use in PowerPoint presenta-tions brings great enjoyment to activities such as theCandlelight Dinner, alumni reunions and other gatherings.Using his artistic talent and computer skills, Brandondesigned a postcard, ultimately becoming a billboard,using logos of participating businesses to advertise the col-lege, raising $50,000 in funds. Brandon's pursuit of adegree in aeronautical science coupled with a minor ingeology gives him the opportunity to fly survey trips withhis geology professor over the local terrain. He is anactive member of the Rocky Mountain College FlightTeam, serves on the Aviation Student Advisory Board andis the author of an aviation column for “Top of the Rock,”the campus newspaper. Brandon is also an award winningparticipant in Rocky’s creative writing and arts journal,“Soliloquy.” He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. StephenTempleton of Middlefield, Ohio.

Cliff Robertson’s film career celebrated

with three campus showings this month

Film Festival!

Brandon Templeton was honored at a partyby the RMC Development staff for being

selected as RMC Student Employee of theYear.

Rocky Mountain College will honor its 126th Commencement speaker bypresenting a Cliff Robertson Film Festival April 15, 18 and 22, 2008.

Known to younger film fans as Uncle Ben in “Spiderman” movies, CliffRobertson is famous among longtime film buffs for a number of roles, includ-ing his Best Actor Award in his Academy Award winning performance in“Charly,” and for his portrayal of President John F. Kennedy in “PT 109.”

“This is an exceptional honor to have this wonderful actor as our com-mencement speaker and to celebrate his rich career,” said RMC PresidentMichael Mace.

Mr. Robertson will receive an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Lettersat the 2008 RMC Commencement on May 3.

He will also be the guest of honor at the annual RMC President's Dinner,May 1.

The first film of the festival -- “Charly” -- will be shown April 15, at 7 p.m.,in Losekamp Hall. Sponsored by the RMC Student Activities Board, the sec-ond film, “Spiderman 3,” will be shown April 18, at 9 p.m., at an outdoor the-atre on the RMC green. “PT 109” will be shown April 22, at 7 p.m., inLosekamp Hall.

The films are free and open to the public, as seating permits.“The film festival is a good way to honor Mr. Robertson before he comes for

commencement. We felt a family-oriented event was an appropriate preface tohis coming here,” said Shari VanDelinder, RMC director of development.

R O C K Y N O W

Rocky Mountain College ■ 1511 Poly Drive ■ Billings, Montana 59102Ph: 1.800.877.6259

Find out more about what’s new and exciting at Rocky online at:

www.rocky.edu

Rocky Mountain College received a giftof nearly a million dollars from the estate ofour alumnus, Dr. J. Scott Pennepacker, a1942 Billings Polytechnic graduate. Thisaddition increases the balance of the J. Scottand Rebecca N. Pennepacker ScholarshipEndowment to almost $1.3 million and willgenerate between $50,000 and $60,000 peryear in scholarships.

Dr. and Mrs. Pennepacker were life longfriends of Rocky and had no children. Hewas the son of Joseph N. and MarionChristie Pennepacker, an early dayMethodist minister in Libby, and a long timeDean of B.P.I., a predecessor of RockyMountain College. Scott received his med-ical degree from Boston University andserved in the U.S. Army Medical Corps dur-ing WWII. His first Montana practice was inSidney.

He served as president of the EasternMontana Medical Association and theMontana Chapter of the American Academyof General Practice. In 1962 he completed aresidency in pathology at the University ofNebraska Medical Center in Lincoln, Neb.He practiced pathology in Janesville, Wis.

and returned to Sioux City, Iowa, to practiceat St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center andwas medical director of its School ofMedical Technology. Scott was medicaldirector of Siouxland Physicians’Laboratory and president of United Way ofSiouxland. In 1984 he was honored by theCollege of American Pathologists as therecipient of the Frank W. Harman MemorialAward for meritorious service. A giftedphysician and teacher, Scott was especiallyproud of his work with students of medicaltechnology. He and Rebecca retired toMissoula to be near family, includingyounger sisters and children, who wereclose and very dear to Scott and Rebecca.Rebecca died in January, 2003. Scott wasalso preceded in death by his sister, Ruth.He was survived by his three sisters: EstherCoombs, Miriam Vosburgh and ElmaMarion Leigh and many much loved niecesand nephews.

Scott and Rebecca’s kindness, generosityand love of life remain an inspiration notonly to family, but to all who were fortunateenough to have known them. Their friend-ship for Rocky Mountain College will affectthe future of this institution and those whopopulate its campus forever. Their lifetimegiving ranks them as the fourth largestdonors to RMC in its 130-year history. Theirgifting exceeds qualification as institutionalfounders and major builders of Montana'soldest institution of higher learning, and apremier private college of top reputation inthe North West. Words are incapable of fullyexpressing the gratitude of Rocky MountainCollege for the unbelievable gifts from thesegood people. The Pennepacker gifts rankthem as major builders of this institution.

This last testamentary gift is of monumentalfounders’ consequence. Years to come willestablish its importance as a gift thatchanged the future of this institution signifi-cantly. Those among us who have walkedwith them have been blessed to know histo-ry.

We praise the memories of Scott andRebecca, thinking of, and thanking, the fam-ily for the role they shared in nurturing a cli-mate of confidence in which considerationof a legacy of such size and power in thestewardship of Rocky Mountain Collegewas possible. We are grateful to the extend-ed Pennepacker family for this beneficenceand will continue to express that gratitude.

Even though it would be human nature toresent diversion of family wealth to an edu-cational institution rather than distributing itto individual members of the family for per-sonal use, it is a certainty that the valuesthat guided and pervaded Scott andRebecca’s philanthropic decisions are com-monly held among the members of theirextended family. To the extent that thosevalues have been seeded in those youngergenerations through the examples and teach-ings of their family elders, the heritage ofthose values will have greater, more lastingand more powerful impact on members ofthe family, and those persons touched bytheir lives, than could have resulted fromfractioning the assets of the deceased patri-archs pursuant to Montana's statutes fordescent and distribution to heirs at law. Thefamily members are envied by many of usand, I am sure, by many not known to us,for the great qualities and potential for goodworks that are a part of their familial inheri-tance. The lives and accomplishments ofScott and Rebecca provide much in whichgreat pride can justifiably be taken by allwho knew them as family, friends, or bene-factors. Their example will be extolled andemulated to the great and continuing benefitof Rocky Mountain College for all time tocome.

By Obert Undem, RMC director of planned giving

Pennepacker gift to RMC grows to $1.3 millionTheir lifetime giving ranks

them as the fourth largest

donors to Rocky in its

130 year history.

Distinguished serviceaward given to RMC

Prof. Bill JamisonThe Rocky Mountain College Alumni

Association presented former MathProfessor Bill Jamison with the RMCHonorary Distinguished Service Award onTuesday, April 8th, at the annual AcademicAwards Banquet.

The Honorary Distinguished ServiceAward goes to a person who is not analumnus, but who has made outstandingcontributions to the College. Bill Jamisonbegan teaching Math at Rocky in 1962and retired in 2005. He also coached theRMC Weight Lifting Team. Jamison was apopular professor and is rememberedfondly by many former students. He wasrecently described by one former studentas “the most influential person in my aca-demic career.”

The Academic Awards Banquet alsohonored outstanding students with depart-mental awards; the Dean’s Cup;President’’s Cup; and outstanding facultywith the Ossie Abrams Teaching Awards.