Happy Wednesday, Beacon readers! Mariah Thomas here for your Daily Roundup today, and for those of you wondering, I did in fact make it up Mount Aeneas last weekend. It marked my first big hike since ACL surgery back in February, and my friends and I even got spoiled with a mountain goat leading us down part of the trail. It was magical!
And now, onto other, more important, things.
A refresher, for those of you who might not remember: last December, philanthropist MacKenzie Scott (the ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos), gave a “transformational” gift of $8 million to Blackfeet Community College, over in Browning. The gift was the largest of its kind in the college’s history, and the school planned to use it to provide student scholarships, increase support for employees and expand its current endowment, among other uses. You can read more about that gift in our “From the Archives” section at the bottom of this newsletter.
In my inbox yesterday, I received a press release stating that $884,764.44 of that $8 million will be “dedicated to supporting the college’s employees and addressing the increasing cost-of-living challenges facing working families throughout the Blackfeet Nation and the region.”
“An institution is only as strong as its people,” said Brad Hall, the president of Blackfeet Community College. “This generous investment recognizes the contributions of our employees and provides meaningful support during a time when many families are facing increased financial pressures. By investing in our workforce, we are investing in student success, institutional stability, and the future of the Blackfeet Nation.”
Christie Farmer, the college’s human resources director, wrote in an email to the Beacon those funds will go to employees in the form of a “board-approved compensation initiative,” which includes salary and wage scale adjustments.
“The Board approved the investment as part of a responsible three-year implementation plan to ensure the gift provides meaningful support to employees while maintaining the College’s long-term financial sustainability,” Farmer wrote.
Blackfeet Community College celebrated its 50th anniversary as an institution in 2024 and has served as both a center of education and Blackfeet tradition, preserving the tribe’s history and language. In recent years, it has focused on career education and developing innovative workforce programs.
Scott’s $8 million gift to Blackfeet Community College was unrestricted, meaning the funds can be used at the school’s discretion for efforts like employee pay. She had previously given $3 million to the school in 2020, which helped the college establish an endowment fund.
Scott has also donated to Salish Kootenai College on the Flathead Reservation; to Chief Dull Knife College on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation; and to Fort Peck Community College.
And… that’s what I’ve got for you all today! Also currently accepting any and all hiking recommendations, now that I’m good to go on some bigger adventures again for these last few weeks of beautiful summer weather. Send your favorite trails my way.
Forstag Shores Up Support from National Democrats in Western District Bid
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s backing of the smokejumper and local union leader is the latest indicator that the race in Montana’s western half is viewed as competitive, with both sides of the aisle investing national resources to win the seat.
Silvertip Fire in Bob Marshall Wilderness Grows to 4,136 Acres
The wildfire is burning 15 miles southeast of Spotted Bear Ranger Station in the Bob Marshall Wilderness. Officials issued a fire watch this weekend as hot, dry and windy conditions are forecast to elevate danger.
Blackfeet Community College Receives Record Gift of $8 Million from MacKenzie Scott
Scott, the ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has now given philanthropic gifts to four of Montana’s seven tribal colleges. She previously gifted Blackfeet Community College $3 million in 2020.
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