Hi-Line Living: Golden memories: Graduates rememberd

Annually at graduation, Montana State University-Northern honors those who graduated 50 years ago or more.

At graduation ceremonies, they wear yellow gowns and go through the ceremonies just as they did 50 years ago.

But on the day before graduation, some of them meet for a luncheon at the Vande Bogart Library.

This year they listened to a brief talk by Chancellor Greg Kegel, then they chatted with one another about the good old days. Some of this year's participants knew each other in college, others just shared memories they had of the institution, faculty members or friends they shared.

Kegel welcomed the golden graduates back to see the campus and take a tour to see the many buildings that have been added since they graduated in the 1960s or earlier.

Indeed, many of the alumni marveled at the changes on the campus and the many new buildings that have been constructed.

The chancellor told them construction will soon start on the the diesel technology center that he said will be the best of its kind. The center will increase enrollment at the campus and add to the university's prestige, he said.  

He spoke of the "far-reaching advantages" of building a football stadium, saying the field could be used for a lot more than Northern football.

"I want you to know that Northern is in good shape," he said. "I hope you walk around and see some of the changes we've made."

Then came the part the participants most looked forward to - talking about the good old days at what was then called Northern Montana College.

They all talked fondly of the days they spent in Havre and at Northern - though Anita Powers talked just as fondly about the days she spent outside of Havre when she was at Northern.

Anita came to Northern to be a science teacher, lured here by Louis Hagener, the renowned science professor for whom the science building on campus in now named.

She went on scientific research trips with Hagener, her adviser, throughout the years. She says she visited places she never would have dreamed of under Hagener's guidance.

Her last trip with Hagener, she said, was to the Galapagos Islands.

Many reminisced about the financial difficulties they had to overcome in attending college.

Faye Baldwin Hart talked about how she feared she wouldn't be able to attend college and considered becoming a secretary.

Then, she said, she told her father, "I want to go to Northern and become a teacher."

Her father said one way or the other, she would go to Northern.

She went to Northern for two years, then taught for one year in a small school. She then came back to Havre to finish up.

Hart went on to teach at Scobey and later Cut Bank, and is now retired.

She said she looks back fondly on her days at Northern.

"I always felt at home here," she said. "Havre was always my favorite town."

At Northern, she lived at Donaldson Hall, the grand dorm that now sits vacant.

She has carried her Northern loyalty with her throughout her life.

While teaching a Cut Bank, a lot of her teacher colleagues were graduates of the University of Montana.

They would wear Grizzly sweatshirts on Fridays, she said.

They were somewhat taken aback when the Northern grads started showing their colors, she said, laughing.

Her family has followed in her footsteps, she said. Two nephews graduated from Northern.

Another graduate said she grew up on a ranch and had never tasted pizza until she had it from Nalivka's Original Pizza Kitchen. "They had incredible pizza," she said, delighted to find out that it was still open.

Others remembered the days when women were required to wear dresses to classes. Some recalled wearing long coats to early morning classes so no one would noticed they violated the rule.

Some recalled playing in Northern's vibrant pep band and performing in theater groups that put on such performances as "Oklahoma."

Some met their spouses at Northern.

Many others honed the skills they would use in their careers and their lives.

"I think it was a great place," said Marilynn Wojtowich, who studied education at Northern.

She went on to teach for 28 years in Havre schools.