Each year the MSU Alumni Association and the Bozeman Chamber of Commerce recognize top seniors at MSU with their Award for Excellence. Honored students are nominated by faculty in their college or department. Qualified seniors must have at least a 3.5 grade point average on a 4.0 scale as well as demonstrated campus leadership and community service.

In turn, each student chooses a faculty or staff person who has served as an inspiration as well as a great mentor during the student’s time at MSU. The faculty or staff person also receives an Award for Excellence.

The 2021 Excellence Award winners and their mentors are:

Max Yates

Biochemistry major Max Yates received an Award for Excellence in 2021.

Avery Berg
Major: Fish & Wildlife Ecology & Management
Hometown: Bozeman, MT
Mentor: Andrea Litt, Associate Professor, Ecology

Morgan Craig
Major: History
Hometown: Billings, MT
Mentor: Molly Todd, Associate Professor, History & Philosophy

Ella Fluer
Major: History
Hometown: Bridger, MT
Mentor: Catherine Dunlop, Associate Professor, History & Philosophy

Shannon Murphy
Major: Applied Mathematics
Hometown: Oak Grove, MN
Mentor: Tomas Gedeon, Professor, Mathematical Sciences

Zoe Noble
Major: Physics
Hometown: Parker, CO
Mentor: Rufus Cone, Professor, Physics

Bryan Suchey
Major: Fish & Wildlife Ecology & Management
Hometown: Arvada, CO
Mentor: David Willey, Associate Teaching Professor, Ecology

Alec Truax
Major: Economics
Hometown: Helena, MT
Mentor: Isaac Swensen, Associate Professor, Agricultural Economics & Economics

Annie Waldum
Major: Biochemistry and Cell Biology & Neuroscience
Hometown: Livingston, MT
Mentor: Valérie Copié, Professor, Chemistry & Biochemestry

Max Yates
Major: Biochemistry
Hometown: Bozeman, MT
Mentor: Nicholas Ross-Dick, Program Manager, Student Success