University of Montana Western business major Cory Birkenbuel is on a mission to ski of all 16 Montana ski areas in 16 days.

For the third time in as many years, the University of Montana Western has a Carnegie Foundation Professor of the Year: Julie Bullard, professor of education and director of early childhood education at Montana Western, is the 2011 Montana Professor of the Year.

The 2012 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings are in and the University of Montana Western is ranked fourth in the West for Top Public Regional Colleges, up from 2011’s fifth-place position.

The University of Montana Western Polynesian Club will present its winter production, Dances of Polynesia, on Wednesday, Nov. 30 and Thursday Dec. 1 with performances at 3:30 and 7 p.m.

The diverse aspirations and abilities of the students served by the University of Montana Western TRiO Student Support Services program represent the varied educational opportunities and challenges students face in pursuing a four-year degree.

The University of Montana Western Camps Corps is hosting a series of events on Sept. 13, 14, 15 and 17 to commemorate the National Day of Service and Remembrance.

The Montana Western Campus Community Garden held an inauguration and poetry reading on Thursday, Sept. 8 to commemorate and showcase the new garden, which now features integrated renewable energy systems.

The University of Montana Western is throwing a party to celebrate a healthy campus and the start of a new academic and athletic year on Friday, Sept. 9 from 5:30 to 9 p.m.

As the academic year came to a close at colleges and universities across the country, the University of Montana Western began preparing for an influx of college students coming to study the unique geology surrounding the Dillon, Mont. campus.

Scenes from Montana Western’s 114th Commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 7, 2011.