Montana State awards 2026 Presidential Scholarships to 22 students

BOZEMAN - Montana State University's most prestigious scholarship was awarded to 22 high school graduates from across the nation and the world, including 13 students from Montana.

The MSU  Presidential Scholarship  is awarded based on scholastic achievement, demonstrated leadership and exemplary public service. Students receive an annual stipend plus a tuition waiver. The scholarship is renewable for three additional years if students maintain superior academic standing at MSU and active membership in the Honors College.

"Our Presidential Scholars represent different hometowns, disciplines and life experiences, but they share a common drive to become community leaders. This will serve them well at MSU," said MSU President Brock Tessman. "I look forward to seeing where this determination will take them in the next stage of their academic journey at Montana State."

MSU selected the scholars from a pool of 1,215 applicants, said Richard Badenhausen, dean of the Honors College.

"The students in this year's class of Presidential Scholars are notable for how they have balanced academic excellence with a commitment to serving their local communities," he said. "We look forward to welcoming them to the Bobcat family soon and supporting them as they look to leave a similar mark at MSU."

The 2026 Presidential Scholarship recipients are:

MONTANA

Billings

Beyla Cassie is a graduate of Billings Senior High School who plans to pursue a degree in environmental sciences. In high school, Cassie served as president of the senior class and captained the speech and debate team. She was also active in band, tennis, rock climbing and student council. Outside of school, Cassie volunteered with a local Montessori school, Eagle Mount and St. John's Nursing Home.

Bozeman

Daniel Peace is a graduate of Bozeman High School and plans to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering. Peace was deeply involved with music through the school's Marching Band, Jazz Band, Wind Ensemble and Saxophone Quartet. He earned perfect scores at both state and district music festivals, along with receiving the Louis Armstrong Jazz award. Outside of school, he volunteered with Bozeman Friends of Music, worked for Kenyon Noble and built floor plans for Big Sky Contracting. In his free time, Peace enjoys performing music, working on personal engineering projects and mentoring younger students in music and STEM, which stands for science, technology, engineering and math.

Elaina Tripet is a graduate of Bozeman High School and plans to pursue a degree in cell biology and neuroscience, in the biomedical sciences option, with a minor in Spanish. She served as captain of the Bozeman 19U girls hockey team, vice president of her school's Key Club chapter and treasurer of the Spanish Honors Society. Additionally, she is a member of the National Honor Society and the Women's Empowerment Club. She enjoys working with kids as a tutor or camp counselor in her free time. She has volunteered at Bozeman Health Deaconess Hospital and spent time in a biochemistry lab to gain experience in the medical field.

Columbia Falls

Ashley Andrews is a graduate of Columbia Falls High School and plans to pursue a degree in English education, with a minor in Spanish. She was an officer in her school's National Honor Society, member of the Conservation Crew and a varsity leader for her track and cross-country teams. She also volunteered as a teacher's assistant at a local elementary school and interned at the Glacier Institute. In her free time, Andrews enjoys reading, running, paddleboarding and photography.

Great Falls

Finley Durocher is a graduate of C. M. Russell High School who plans to pursue a degree in biological engineering. She was a member of the Symphonic Band all four years of high school and spent three as principal French horn and section leader. She was a member of the All-State Band for two years, principal in the All-State Orchestra for two years and was part of the All-Northwest Orchestra in 2025. She was also an active HOSA member for two years, helping lead funding and awareness activities for the Lost Enzyme Project in 2024, and was a member of National Honor Society.

Taylah Jaques is a graduate of C.M. Russell High School and plans to pursue a degree in nursing. In high school, she was involved in student government, HOSA Future Health Professionals, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and a local mentorship program, all of which taught her valuable life skills and allowed her to give back to the community. In her free time, Jaques enjoys reading, crafting, listening to music, spending time with friends and family, and working in a local emergency department.

Harlowton

Ella Cooney graduated as valedictorian of Harlowton High School and plans to pursue degrees in agricultural business and business finance. She was involved in student government, National History Day in Montana and Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, earning second place at nationals twice. Cooney represented her community at American Legion Auxiliary Girls State and served on the Young People's Continental Congress, in addition to being an All-Conference and All-State volleyball player. She also dedicates time to community service and her family's ranch. She hopes to return home to rural Montana and build a career in agricultural lending and banking, serving the communities that shaped her.

Helena

Sydney Harman is a graduate of Capital High School and plans to pursue a degree in biomedical engineering. In high school, Harman served as the vice president of Science Club, captain of the speech and debate team and secretary of her school's National Honor Society. As part of her school's Science Olympiad team, she placed first in the state for two consecutive years in the Codebusters competition and placed in the top five in at least one portion of the event for all four years she participated. She is also involved in climate activism throughout her community, attending multiple conferences and rallies across the state.

Delaney Lynch is a graduate of Capital High School and plans to pursue a degree in cell biology and neuroscience. Throughout high school, she served as a student trustee on the Helena Public Schools Board of Trustees, board member of the Helena Education Foundation and student advocate for the "Yes for Helena Schools" campaign. Lynch also held leadership roles as president of her local HOSA chapter, editor of Pen and Ink, vice president of the Helena Health Science Alliance and officer for student council. In her free time, Lynch enjoys swimming and riding horses.

Caden McCullough graduated as valedictorian of Capital High School and plans to pursue a pre-medicine track. He served as his school's student body vice president and National Honor Society vice president. He was an officer in HOSA and Key Club and was a member of Green Club. A four-time varsity athlete in both tennis and golf, he became a two-year golf captain and three-year tennis captain. McCullough ended his senior seasons in golf and tennis as part of teams that placed in state competitions.

Kalispell

Quinn Berkram is a graduate of Glacier High School and plans to major in kinesiology to pursue a career in pediatric physical therapy. She served as National Honor Society president for her school and was involved in tennis, volleyball, DECA, dance and Spanish Honors Society. Additionally, Berkram helped start a student wellness club, worked alongside English language learners in her school district and earned the Montana Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish.

Missoula

Josephine Schulze is a graduate of Big Sky High School who plans to pursue a degree in microbiology. She was founder and president of her school's International Club chapter, president of the HOSA chapter for two years and participated in organizations such as Key Club, Science Olympiad, Health Science Academy and National Honor Society. She played the double bass in a classical orchestra for four years and conducted oncology research with the American Cancer Society. Schulze enjoys hiking, rock climbing and backpacking.

Winnett

Shaylie Ahlgren is a graduate of Winnett High School who plans to double major in agricultural business and economics, with a minor in political science. Growing up on her family's ranch in eastern Montana, Ahlgren developed a deep appreciation for agriculture through experiences like the fall gather in the Missouri Breaks, hauling cattle to summer pasture, calving in blizzards and cold weather and rope-and-drag brandings in the spring. She hopes to attend law school and become an agricultural attorney and advocate for the agricultural industry. In high school, she participated in basketball, volleyball, student council and National Honor Society, and she founded Winnett's FFA chapter.

OUT OF STATE

COLORADO

Commerce City

Neyla Gurule is a graduate of Prairie View High School who plans to study graphic design. She was alto section leader of her school's choir, color guard section leader of the marching band and member of the Tri-M Music Honor Society. She also took part in the 2025 Colorado All-State Choir, earned a silver medal in the Colorado FCCLA Conference for baking and pastry, participated in the Youth Celebrate Diversity Student Board and volunteered through the Brighton Youth Commission, where she was the historian and public relations officer.

NEW MEXICO

Albuquerque

Vivian Wiseman is a graduate of Albuquerque High School who plans to study political science. She drafted House Memorial 56, helping advocate for later high school start times for New Mexico students. She served on the Mayor's Youth Advisory Council for Albuquerque and on the youth board of the New Mexico Alliance for School-Based Health Care, where she worked to elevate youth voices in conversations around health and education. Wiseman was a four-year varsity athlete and captain of her school's cross-country team, as well as president of MESA and vice president of Model United Nations. She looks forward to pursuing a future in public service, focused on public health and environmental policy.

NORTH DAKOTA

Cavalier

Malory Kemp is a graduate of Cavalier High School who plans to pursue a degree in civil engineering. Throughout high school, she participated in student council, Future Business Leaders of America, River Watch, Envirothon, the science fair and was student body president. Outside of school, Kemp is active in her community through service projects, 4-H, teaching at EcoEd Day and working as a lifeguard. She also traveled in high school with Youth Ambassadors Brazil, Women in Science Southeast Asia and the Congressional Youth Bundestag Exchange to Germany. She used these experiences to develop a community service project providing infants participating in Cavalier's local WIC program with warm, safe sleepwear.

OHIO

Stow

Phoebe Krenn is a summa cum laude graduate of Hudson High School who plans to study political science. She will also explore economics and philosophy in preparation for a career in law. She was involved in various student organizations throughout high school, serving as president of her school's National Honor Society and secretary for her school's Model United Nations team. She ran cross-country for all four years of high school and competed with a mock trial team. Krenn also coached youth lacrosse in her community.

WASHINGTON

Clinton

Elsa Layman is a graduate of South Whidbey High School who plans to study biochemistry. She also plans to explore her interests in mathematics, philosophy and the arts. In high school, Layman participated in varsity soccer, track and field, and wrestling, and she was a member of the Associated Student Body, National Honor Society, Math Olympiad, Wind Ensemble and Pep Band. Layman graduated from high school a semester early and spent two months in the Okavango Delta at the Botswana Predator Conservation research camp. Outside of school, she is a gym enthusiast, beekeeper and artist who enjoys spending time with family and friends and pursuing outdoor activities such as backpacking, hunting, fishing, skiing, paddleboarding and beach walks.

Leavenworth

Micah Wilder graduated as valedictorian of Cascade High School and plans to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering technology with a minor in business. Wilder served as the executive vice president of ASB, through which he organized school events and led student government initiatives. A competitive athlete across multiple sports, Wilder is a three-time consecutive state champion in high school cross-country mountain biking and is the 2024 overall regional champion of the Cascadia Dirt Cup Enduro series. As a Nordic skier, he represented the Pacific Northwest at junior and senior nationals for three consecutive years, placing among the top 25 racers in the nation. He also competed as a varsity starter in football, basketball and track, earning the distinction of honorary captain in football. Outside of athletics, Wilder has served as a camp counselor since 2019 and has mentored youth skiers with the Plain Valley Nordic Team since 2023. Wilder is also the founder of Wild Woods, a custom wood and steel furniture business.

Maple Valley

Lily Dizon is a graduate of Tahoma Senior High School who plans to pursue a degree in architecture. In high school, she served as senior class treasurer, participated in Advanced Leadership and was president of the Filipino Student Union. Dizon earned her Washington State Seal of Biliteracy, was awarded the Distinguished Honors Medallion as one of the top students in her graduating class and was one of two recipients of the Rod Sivertsen Leadership Award. Outside of the classroom, Dizon volunteered as a tutor and mentor for children at Vine Maple Place and has pursued her passion for dance for more than a decade.

WYOMING

Jackson Hole

Ellie Stubbs is a graduate of Jackson Hole High School who intends to pursue a degree in ecological and biological conservation, with a minor in Spanish. In high school, she served as student body president, president of Sustainability Club, secretary of Rotary Interact club and student representative for National Honor Society. She also studied Spanish in school. Stubbs spends time recreating in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, skiing, climbing, biking and mountaineering.

INTERNATIONAL

PARAGUAY

Asuncian

Luis de Lima graduated in 2025 from San Ignacio de Loyola School and plans to study chemical engineering. He has spent most of his life in Paraguay. He represented Paraguay at the Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship in Anaheim, California, where he placed among the top 10 competitors worldwide. He also researched native Paraguayan plants to develop a phytomedicinal veterinary shampoo, earning first place in a national science competition and an ambassadorship to the MILSET Expo-Sciences International in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. In addition, he has mentored members of disadvantaged communities in entrepreneurship and currently works in research and development at an international food technology company. Outside of academics and research, he enjoys outdoor adventure and exploration.