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Greetings
from Bozeman
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Geoff
Gamble
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| In
Roman mythology, Janus is the god of portals,
of comings and goings, of the past and the
future. He is a god with two faces. One face
surveys the past and one looks to the future.
Janus is both appreciative of the past and
anxious to celebrate new beginnings. |
| As
we approach the 106th commencement at Montana
State University, I think that both the students
and I feel a little like Janus. Though I've
not been here as long as the students who
will soon be graduating, I take great pride
and comfort in looking back and reviewing
and thinking about the extraordinary achievements
that they, and the faculty who have mentored
them, have gathered over these past few years.
It is a great time to be associated with MSU,
and it's a great time to be a Bobcat! |
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| Some
of the accomplishments have been very public. Student
athletes have won important contests, faculty have gained
national attention for their teaching, research and service
to the state, and student scholars and leaders have continued
to receive prestigious national awards and scholarships.
In a much less public way, behind each of them, is a teammate
or a colleague or a fellow student or teacher who pushes
them and who, in doing so, raises their own level of achievement.
It is why the "average" MSU student turns out so far above
average and why students here recognize and appreciate
the great university that alumni and donors and Montana
citizens have provided for them. |
| Like
the Roman god, the students and I are appreciative of
the past, but eager to celebrate commencement and look
ahead to a future where they will be successful and where
their achievements will attract the next generation of
leaders and scholars to Montana State. My look into the
future tells me that if we are to meet the increased competition
for excellent students, students who will continue to
bring recognition, we will need to call for increased
assistance from friends, alumni, students and families.
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| Because
of this need, a little more than a year ago, I started
a campaign to raise significant scholarship dollars; enough
so that no quality student who can benefit from an MSU
education will feel the need to forego a college education
or go to a second choice school because of money. On April
3, we formally announced the Putting Students First Scholarship
Campaign to raise $18 million in endowed scholarships.
If, together, we're successful in this endeavor, then
future MSU students and presidents will be able to stand
on the commencement platform, survey the past, look to
the future and think to themselves, "It's a great time
to be a Bobcat!" |
| Sincerely, |
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| Geoff
Gamble |
| MSU
President |
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