Bozeman Elks Lodge
205 Haggerty Lane
Bozeman, MT 59718
ph: 406-586-5824
Our way of recognizing community members for their courage, personal qualities, and outstanding achievements.
Day after day, these everyday heroes give their time, voice, and resources to create a better future for all.
Sometimes, heroes are born in a single moment.
Sometimes, a person becomes a hero thanks to months or years of actions and services.
Cindy Christin
Montana Librarian of the Year
Cindy Christin became the full-time head of Bozeman Public Library Youth Services in 2006. Cindy has spent her years at the library trying to meet the needs of Bozeman’s kids and families. Her department runs a toddler story time, a children’s book club, after-school activities for kids of all ages and parenting classes.
Jim Drummond
In retirement, Jim Drummond serves as a Bozeman Police Commissioner and started Friends of the Bozeman VETS Court in order for veterans to achieve life-long rehabilitation and successful return to productive and positive lives.
Nancy Winget, Volunteer (Blue Mask)
Mindy DeCosse, Volunteer
Providing gifts, food and support to families in and around Bozeman and the Gallatin Valley, during the holiday season, and all year long.
Allison Beckman, Gallatin High School
Bozeman Public Schools
Allison Beckman serves as Main Office Assistant at Gallatin High School. Day after day, Allison coordinates placing Guest Teachers (Substitutes) in classrooms at a very challenging time when teachers may be absent for quarantine periods after being in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19.
Rebecca Williamson, Medical Unit Manager
Bozeman Health Deaconess Hospital
Rebecca Williamson manages 110 nurses and works with other department managers in the hospital to push through demands of COVID-19.
Matt Kelly, Gallatin City-County Health Officer
Hours before the first case of COVID-19 in Montana was announced, local officials gathered at the Gallatin County courthouse for a press conference. Matt Kelley, Health Officer for the Gallatin City-County Health Department, spoke first. His job was to deliver a warning: The virus was coming.
“If this happens, we ask everyone in the community to respond with compassion, kindness and charity in their heart,” Kelley said.
Salvation Army Volunteers
Volunteers serving a free breakfast at the Salvation Army in Bozeman, Montana.
Kathi Gregoire, Chaplain
Gallatin County Sheriff's Office
What I See...Read More
Kathy Gregoire provides ministry to crisis victims, department personnel and their families, both at scenes and after incidents, and at ceremonies and events. Kathi also provides death notifications, suicide intervention, and more.
Tracy Echert
Hyalite Fire Department Volunteer
Morning Star Elementary School Teacher
In Montana, 83.9 percent of departments are made up of volunteers.
Tracy Echert is one of those Volunteers as a member of the Hyalite Fire Department.
Tracy is also a teacher at Morning Star Elementary School.
The Veterans Alliance of Southwest Montana salutes Tracy Echert for organizing the Veterans Day Assembly at Morning Star Elementary School.
Gallatin County DUI Task Force
Law Enforcement DUI Awards Ceremony
April 10, 2019
THANK YOU for all you do to keep our roads, our friends, and our families safe!
Belgrade PD...Bozeman PD...Gallatin County Sheriff's Office...Manhattan PD...Montana HIghway Patrol...Montana State University PD...West Yellowstone PD
Officer Jesse Holton
Bozeman Police Department Annual Awards
Distinguished Service Award
On April 4, 2019, Officer Jesse Holton was recognized for his outstanding service and dedication to our community and department. And for his professionalism, work ethic, and conduct that are an example for all.
Galltin County 911 Dispatch Center
In 2018, Dispatchers at the Galltin County 911 Dispatch Center handled 174,031 9-1-1 Calls. These Dispatchers provide a critical link between the community and public safety resources (police officers, deputies, fire departments and paramedics) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
The Rock Youth Center provides a safe place outside of school and home where kids are welcomed, loved, and encouraged to grow in every aspect of their lives.
The Staff is dedicated to serving each person that comes through The Rock’s doors.
Pris Gale, Child Advocate
Pris Gale has always always been an advocate for children as a foster parent and mother of 3 adopted children. During the past 12 years, Pris has put countless hours into making clothing and blankets for infants that were then donated to Family Promise, Love INC. and most recently to Volunteers of America for a local veteran family.
Susie & Gary Larson
Year after year, Susie & Gary help support programs that better our community. Their public service is making a difference in the lives of youth and veterans throughout Gallatin County.
Michele Letendre
Bozeman Job Service Counselor
Greater Gallatin Homeless Action Coalition
Michele Letendre matches up employers and employees, especially some who have a disability and have a harder battle than others in finding a job.
Her co-workers say she has a special talent for helping those who show up at their office. She has had other jobs, including being a radio host, but this is one that she feels makes a difference.
Michele is also a Coordinator for the Greater Gallatin Homeless Action Coalition that she has been apart of since it was founded.
Steve Johnson
Bozeman School District Leader Retires
During his 35 years with Bozeman Schools, Steve Johnson has been a mentor to many, a reliable person filled with historical knowledge of the district and a dependable source for all school-finance related questions throughout the state.
Mitch & Sherri Bradley, Owners
Heebs Fresh Market is a Bozeman grocery store, owned by Mitch and Sherri Bradley who support our community by contributing to schools and local sporting events.
Rich Winget, Volunteer
Providing gifts, food and support to families in and around Bozeman and the Gallatin Valley, during the holiday season, and all year long.
Shelly Dunn, Bozeman HIgh School
Bozeman Public Schools
Shelly Dunn serves as a Main Office Assistant at Bozeman High School. Day after day, Shelly coordinates placing Guest Teachers (Substitutes) in classrooms at a very challening time when teachers may be absent for quarantine periods after being in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19.
Mark Van Slyke, School Resource Officer
Bozeman Police Department
Mark Van Slyke is a recipient of the Nation Association of School Resource Officer National Practitioner Certification.
Mark is in his 8th year as a School Resource Officer and was previously assigned to Bozeman High School. This year Mark is assigned at the newly opened Gallatin High School. Mark as been a sworn police officer with the Bozeman Police Department for over 12 years and was previously a police officer in Fort Benton, MT for 2 years.
Edward Szczypinski, Coordinator
Gallatin County Communities That Care
On July 11, 2020, Rick Gale, MSEA DAP State Chairman, presented the "Enrique Camarena-What Heroes Do" Coin to Edward Szczypinski, Coordinator of Gallatin County Communities That Care, for his exemplary work in coordinating efforts to improve the health and well being of youth in Gallatin County, Montana.
Edward Szczypinski has served our community as the Chairman of the Greater Gallatin Homeless Action Coalition, and member of the Community-Coalition On Drug Awareness, Gallatin County Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force, Gallatin County DUI Task Force, Gallatin County Mental Health Local Advisory Council - Advocate, Interagency, and Montana State University Substance Abuse Free Environmment Coalition.
Gwen Fairbanks & Charlene Hilkemeier
A BIG THANKS goes to Gwen Fairbanks and Charlene Hilkemeier, Bozeman School District, for providing free grab-and-go lunches for kids at Hyalite Elementary School while Montana public schools remain closed to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Fatima Lucas
Alleviating the Shortage of Medical Supplies
“We’re trying to get as many people to pitch in as we can. And we already have all kinds of people making this happen for our community,” Lucas said. “I believe that we can work from the heart and fight this together."
Fatima is a former emergency room nurse who stepped up to coordinate volunteers, businesses and Bozeman Health to source materials, get masks made and ensure the final products meet the needs of health care providers.
Rob Tallon, Reach Inc.
For the last 35 years, Rob Tallon has been bridging the gap between the disabled and mainstream society – and with great success. He is retiring in June after leading Reach Inc. through exponential growth, in the services it provides, the resources it has within its reach and the clientele it serves.
Todd Garrison, Child Advocate
In 2009, Todd Garrison led the launch and growth of the ChildWise Institute and served as its Executive Director. ChildWise Institute educational events have attracted audiences in Montana and from other states, including Washington, Idaho, South Dakota, Colorado, Wyoming, Oregon and California.
Todd has devoted his life’s work to helping and healing children who have experienced serious Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) in their young lives. Todd is a Certified Adverse Childhood Experiences ACE Study Master Trainer and has trained literally thousands of individuals across Montana at various summits and learning seminars, including K-12 teachers and administrators as well as correctional officers working in Montana’s jails and prisons.
Bozeman's Shraugers gear up for largest blood drive in town.
Each year, Caden’s family hosts a blood drive, and he said when people donate blood once, they’re likely to do it again. Caden had the same feeling about the diving board at Bozeman’s trampoline park when he realized it wasn’t so scary.
Caden is a seven-year cancer survivor. He was diagnosed with high-risk neuroblastoma at 3 and received 35 blood transfusions over four years. Friends hosted the first blood drive in Caden’s honor when he started treatment.
The Shrauger family has continued the tradition for the past seven years.
David M. Young
Professor & Community Resource Specialist
David M. Young is a Professor and Community Health Specialist at Montana State University and a member of the Community-Coalition On Drug Awareness.
In 2005, David joined the MSU Extension Service to develop a community health outreach program designed to provide information, education, resources, technical assistance and services to help create healthy, safe, thriving Montana communities.
David also serves as a Volunteer Chaplain for local law enforcement and is actively involved in jail and prison ministry. He is a member of several national organizations, including: the American Correctional Chaplains Association, the American Correctional Association, the American Jail Association, the International Conference of Police Chaplains, and, the Rural Chaplains Association.
Bozeman Elks Lodge
205 Haggerty Lane
Bozeman, MT 59718
ph: 406-586-5824