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20 | MAY 21, 2014 COVER FLATHEADBEACON.COM

The Final Bow

Hannah Brinton says FVCC gave her the footing to take on any challenge, including going to a four-year university

earlier during the festival.
in 2013 to present a medical eth-
Two: Don’t cry.
ics project from one of her honors
“It was tough to do that last
courses at a national conference.

bow because all I wanted to do Even though the topic appeared
was run back into the Green a world away from business and
Room and cry,” Brinton said.
theater, Brinton attacked the
For three years, Brinton, 21, class like she does everything,
has been a staple of FVCC’s the- with vigor and enthusiasm.
ater program and has taken part “I wanted to work as hard as I
in, either on stage or back stage, could for the people who paid for

no less than 14 plays. Last week me to come here,” she said.
she graduated with an associate’s Leaving FVCC is bittersweet,
degree in business and arts and Brinton said, adding that she be-
this fall will enter the University lieves the teachers there care
of Montana as a junior.
about the students: “They could
Brinton graduated from Co- teach anywhere,” she said. “But
lumbia Falls High School in 2011 they’re here because they care.”
and enrolled at FVCC that fall. In the fall, Brinton will study

She was accepted into its scholars marketing and theater and she
program, which places students hopes to graduate in 2016. While
in honors classes and covers their she would miss FVCC, she is ex-
tuition. Upon arriving at FVCC, cited for the future. Talking to
Brinton initially was unsure of Brinton, it’s clear that she is pre-
her career path, but was drawn pared for it. In fact, the only thing
back to her true love: theater, she doesn’t know how to do is say
Hannah Brinton,
21, graduated from By JUSTIN FRANZ of the Beacon
had two things on her mind dur- which she has done since the sec- thank you.
Flathead Valley ing her inal performance playing ond grade.
“How do you thank every- A
Community Col- few weeks ago, at Flat-
a proper Victorian-era woman “My parents knew if I wasn’t one who has helped me? Words
lege with a degree looking for love.
at home then I was in the theater are not enough,” she said. “So to head Valley Commu-
in business and room,” she said.
thank them I’m going to go on and nity College’s Inter- One: Don’t slip back into the
theater. continue my education.”
national 10 Minute
deep southern accent of the ditsy
Because of the scholars pro-
GREG LINDSTROM [email protected]
Play Festival, Hannah Brinton
character she played a few hours gram, Brinton traveled to Arizona
FLATHEAD BEACON

From the Firehouse to the Classroom

Ryan Pitts juggles multiple responsibilities as a student, teacher, ireighter and father

By JUSTIN FRANZ of the Beacon
tion work was scarce and opted
T to go back to school to become a
he list of titles at- paramedic. He received his cer-
tached to Ryan Pitts’ tiication from FVCC in 2012 and
name seems endless. since then has been working on his
He’s a father of six, a practical nursing license, which

captain at the Evergreen Fire De- he received this spring upon grad-
partment, a part-time nurse, and uation. Pitts has also taught basic
a student and teacher at Flathead
EMT courses at FVCC since 2012.
Valley Community College.
Balancing school, work and fam-
Now, he’s also a graduate and ily isn’t always easy, Pitts said,
recipient of the Newman Civic adding that he and his wife once
Fellow Award, a national honor igured he was working 140-hour
for college students who have
weeks. Despite that busy sched-

served their community.
ule, Pitts has kept a promise he
Pitts, 38, graduated from Flat-
made to himself and his six kids,
head High School in 1994 and be- who range from 12 months old to
gan working construction. He 14 years old.
made good money and didn’t feel “I never ever take work or
the need to go to college. Then school home with me,” he said.
he received his emergency medi- “When I’m home, I’m home.”

cal technician license in 1997 and Though Pitts donned a cap and
started volunteering locally as a gown at graduation on May 16, he
ireighter and EMT. In 2001, he is not about to leave FVCC. After a have been incredibly busy, but work now, be it as a nurse or on a
Ryan Pitts is
got a job at the Glacier Park Inter- well-deserved break, Pitts will be graduated with none of it would have been pos- ire, there is a direct connection
national Airport Fire Department back at school in January work- a practical nurs- sible without FVCC, which he said with people when they need help
and a few years later, started at ing toward becoming a registered ing license.
aims to help non-traditional stu- the most and are at their most
the Evergreen Fire Department, nurse. With that certiication, he GREG LINDSTROM dents like him. And he said it will vulnerable,” he said. “It’s very re-
where he is now a captain.
hopes to get a job in an emergency FLATHEAD BEACON
all be worth it in the end.
warding. I get to spend 140 hours a

In 2008, when the economy room.
“I’ve had jobs in the past where week doing what I love.”
collapsed, Pitts found construc-
Pitts said the last few years
I hated going, but every day I’m at
[email protected]