Cronk, Divish 2021 Northern Founders Excellence recipients

Press release

The Montana State University-Northern Foundation has announced the 2021 Founders' Excellence Award recipients, Paulette Cronk and Patsy Divish.

Both were nominated and unanimously voted in for their tireless dedication to Northern and their countless hours of volunteer work at the Foundation. The Founders Excellence award goes to individuals who show loyalty and service to Montana State University-Northern and has been a tradition for more than 35 years.

Paulette Cronk, a Northern graduate of the class of '63, has always been a strong supporter of her alma mater. She has served on the Northern Alumni board and committees for the past 32 years, and also served on the Foundation board for eight years. She has always gone above and beyond to help support the college's evolution and continued growth for students and the community.

Cronk, born in North Dakota, came to Havre in the early '60s to "check out" Northern Montana College. She loved what she saw, stayed in Havre, and enrolled in the education program to obtain her degree in education. After graduating, Cronk taught elementary school in Harlem for four years. During this time she met her husband, Richard Cronk, a graduate of Montana State University and an ROTC lieutenant who returned from serving in Germany to join the family business, Cronk Ranch Inc.

It was while living at the Cronk ranch in the 1980s that Judy Bricker, alumni director at the college, asked Paulette Cronk to join the alumni board. Always a cheerleader for her beloved college, she enthusiastically joined and embarked on a volunteer career of over three decades of service.

Cronk values the countless hours she has spent volunteering at Northern.

"The university has an exciting future," she said. "Not only does it provide an excellent education program, but it has incorporated a focus for future growth in the nursing program, graduate degrees, as well as the diesel program with its fantastic new building."

Cronk and her husband are now retired and live in Chinook. They are parents to Jason (Jenn), a CEO at Immanuel Lutheran retirement community in Kalispell, Trevor (Julie), an entrepreneur in Stillwater, MN, and Shantel, the Northern Foundation Executive Director. They are grandparents to Sophie, Maxwell, Colby, Camille, and Ella.

Patsy Divish, a Northern graduate of the class of '88, has been part of the Northern Alumni Board for many years. While on the Foundation board, she served as chairman of the Alumni Committee helping to plan and coordinate alumni activities.

"The most gratifying event of my time," she said, "was the Golden Graduation reunion. I loved having the chance to meet and talk with the Golden Grads, listening to their unique stories of how and why they came to Northern and the impact of their education."

With her children now out of the house and living in different cities, Divish and her husband filled that absence by participating in the Adopt a Volleyball Skylight and Light basketball programs.

"Being a host family to athletes is rewarding for us," she said. "We've enjoyed having young people back in our lives and providing any help, hugs, guidance, meals, laundry or even a few cookies when needed."

Divish grew up in Havre and is a proud graduate of Northern, earning an associate degree in business. She's worked in the business side of the health care industry since 1970, when she worked for the Havre Clinic. Currently, she works for Northern Montana Hospital as a financial analyst.

Divish has been married to her husband, Ed, for 47 years. She has two children, Ryan Divish, who lives in Seattle, and Marcie Kessel (Justin), who lives in Parker, CO. They have two granddaughters, Madeline and Alexandra.

Patsy and Ed Divish also have a "crazy Labrador mix" named Mika who demands much of their attention.

The Foundation is hosting a Summer Celebration May 22 at the venue Montana Style Events in Havre where Cronk and Divish will be the guests of honor. Tickets are limited and include dinner and live music.

People can contact the Foundation for more information.

Also, to celebrate their achievement, donations can be made to the MSUN Foundation in honor of Cronk or Divish.

People can call 406-265-3711 or donate online at http://www.msunfoundation.org .

Each recipient will receive a message of the donor's generosity to the Foundation they have supported for so many years.

Nominations are currently being taken for the Founders' Excellence Award recipients for 2022. People can contact the MSU-Northern office for more details on how to make a nomination.