Education
Education
ºÚÁÏ´óÊÂ¼Ç Alumni Make 300,000 dollar Gift to University
ºÚÁÏ´óÊÂ¼Ç announced today that alumni, Gary ’85 and Janet ’85 Kolstad, have gifted an additional $300,000 to the university. The gift will go towards the support of the Living & Learning Center on campus.
“It is with great pride that Janet and I are able to continue to give back to ºÚÁÏ´óÊÂ¼Ç and help the students and university,” noted Gary. “We are inspired by the success of students and graduates of ºÚÁÏ´óÊÂ¼Ç and their life’s journey from ordinary to extraordinary, and the resulting impact they have in this world. ºÚÁÏ´óÊÂ¼Ç is well known in industry as the premier STEM institution in Montana.”
Gary and Janet have been donors to ºÚÁÏ´óÊÂ¼Ç since 1991, and in 2014 they reached one million dollars in aggregate giving to the university. In 2008, they established the Gary and Janet Kolstad Endowment which has grown to over $1,100,000 today, which subsequently produces over $40,000 of annual giving, split between petroleum engineering scholarships and petroleum department funding.
“Gary and Janet are special people,” noted ºÚÁÏ´óÊÂ¼Ç Chancellor Don Blackketter. “Not only have they given from their finances, they are also extremely active in mentoring new graduates, motivating alumni to be more involved with ºÚÁÏ´óÊÂ¼Ç and professional organizations, and are examples of integrity as business and community leaders. ºÚÁÏ´óÊÂ¼Ç is proud to be closely associated with the Kolstads.”
In addition, the Kolstads actively support alumni events in Houston, have given unrestricted gifts, and supported capital projects like the Natural Resources Building, Digger Turf, and the Frank and Ann Gilmore University Relations Center.
"Gary and Janet have been exceptional ºÚÁÏ´óÊÂ¼Ç alumni," explained Joe McClafferty, President of the ºÚÁÏ´óÊÂ¼Ç Foundation. "They have given of their time, talent, and treasure to our university. We are very thankful for all they do for ºÚÁÏ´óÊÂ¼Ç and are so proud of their success coming from ordinary beginnings to leading extraordinary lives."
Their dedication and commitment to be part of the solution is advancing our university. Janet (Tuss) is a native of Great Falls, MT and started her career with ARCO Oil and Gas Company. During her eight years with ARCO, she served in several production operations positions in California, Oklahoma, and Texas.
Gary is a native of Glasgow, MT and started his career as a field engineer with Schlumberger. Serving in numerous domestic and international leadership positions, he had the opportunity of living and working in North America, Russia, Indonesia, and the Middle East. In 2006, Gary was recruited to be the CEO of CARBO Ceramics Inc. (NYSE: CRR), a global oilfield services technology company providing industry leading production enhancement products and services to increase the recovery factor in oil and natural gas wells. His passion for driving CARBO to develop innovative technology has roots from his engineering degree earned at MT Tech.
For his contribution to his career and his community, Gary was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award from ºÚÁÏ´óÊÂ¼Ç in 2002. He has remained very engaged with ºÚÁÏ´óÊÂ¼Ç over the years, including the ºÚÁÏ´óÊÂ¼Ç Foundation Board of Directors, Petroleum Advisory Board, and the current comprehensive campaign.
The Living & Learning Center (LLC) on the ºÚÁÏ´óÊÂ¼Ç campus will serve as a vibrant multidisciplinary building creating a new social hub on campus. The LLC will house a state-of-the art resident hall with access to a variety of community lounges and learning spaces. These spaces will be designed to create an environment that will foster leadership, teamwork, collaboration, and communication skills.
“It is with great pride that Janet and I are able to continue to give back to ºÚÁÏ´óÊÂ¼Ç and help the students and university,” noted Gary. “We are inspired by the success of students and graduates of ºÚÁÏ´óÊÂ¼Ç and their life’s journey from ordinary to extraordinary, and the resulting impact they have in this world. ºÚÁÏ´óÊÂ¼Ç is well known in industry as the premier STEM institution in Montana.”
Gary and Janet have been donors to ºÚÁÏ´óÊÂ¼Ç since 1991, and in 2014 they reached one million dollars in aggregate giving to the university. In 2008, they established the Gary and Janet Kolstad Endowment which has grown to over $1,100,000 today, which subsequently produces over $40,000 of annual giving, split between petroleum engineering scholarships and petroleum department funding.
“Gary and Janet are special people,” noted ºÚÁÏ´óÊÂ¼Ç Chancellor Don Blackketter. “Not only have they given from their finances, they are also extremely active in mentoring new graduates, motivating alumni to be more involved with ºÚÁÏ´óÊÂ¼Ç and professional organizations, and are examples of integrity as business and community leaders. ºÚÁÏ´óÊÂ¼Ç is proud to be closely associated with the Kolstads.”
In addition, the Kolstads actively support alumni events in Houston, have given unrestricted gifts, and supported capital projects like the Natural Resources Building, Digger Turf, and the Frank and Ann Gilmore University Relations Center.
"Gary and Janet have been exceptional ºÚÁÏ´óÊÂ¼Ç alumni," explained Joe McClafferty, President of the ºÚÁÏ´óÊÂ¼Ç Foundation. "They have given of their time, talent, and treasure to our university. We are very thankful for all they do for ºÚÁÏ´óÊÂ¼Ç and are so proud of their success coming from ordinary beginnings to leading extraordinary lives."
Their dedication and commitment to be part of the solution is advancing our university. Janet (Tuss) is a native of Great Falls, MT and started her career with ARCO Oil and Gas Company. During her eight years with ARCO, she served in several production operations positions in California, Oklahoma, and Texas.
Gary is a native of Glasgow, MT and started his career as a field engineer with Schlumberger. Serving in numerous domestic and international leadership positions, he had the opportunity of living and working in North America, Russia, Indonesia, and the Middle East. In 2006, Gary was recruited to be the CEO of CARBO Ceramics Inc. (NYSE: CRR), a global oilfield services technology company providing industry leading production enhancement products and services to increase the recovery factor in oil and natural gas wells. His passion for driving CARBO to develop innovative technology has roots from his engineering degree earned at MT Tech.
For his contribution to his career and his community, Gary was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award from ºÚÁÏ´óÊÂ¼Ç in 2002. He has remained very engaged with ºÚÁÏ´óÊÂ¼Ç over the years, including the ºÚÁÏ´óÊÂ¼Ç Foundation Board of Directors, Petroleum Advisory Board, and the current comprehensive campaign.
The Living & Learning Center (LLC) on the ºÚÁÏ´óÊÂ¼Ç campus will serve as a vibrant multidisciplinary building creating a new social hub on campus. The LLC will house a state-of-the art resident hall with access to a variety of community lounges and learning spaces. These spaces will be designed to create an environment that will foster leadership, teamwork, collaboration, and communication skills.
