Moen Gift to GHS Educational Trust Reflects Lifetime Association

The Glasgow High School Educational Trust is honored to announce a recent gift of $10,000 from former Glasgow resident and long-time Glasgow School District Clerk Eunice (Burrus) Moen. She made the gift in memory of her daughter Lila Moen Sanders, who died of a brain tumor in 1981, and in honor of her daughter Phyllis Moen Sanguine. Both girls graduated from GHS in 1954. In making her gift, Eunice Moen wrote, �It is satisfying to be able to help students as they pursue their education.�

Like so many Valley County residents of her generation, Eunice began her education in country schools. However, after two years she and her three sisters began their long association with Glasgow Public Schools. The transition was full of surprises, Moen stated, including �flush toilets and running water,� luxuries unheard of on the farm, as well as new friendships and interesting courses. She graduated at the age of 16 with the GHS Class of 1933, and the following year attended Northern Montana College, now Montana State University-Northern, for one year.

In 1935, she married a neighbor, Chet Moen, who found work during the Great Depression on the Ft. Peck Dam Project. With the advent of World War II, the young family, now complete with daughters Lila and Phyllis, moved to Tacoma, Washington, where Chet worked in the shipyards until the end of the war.

When the family returned to Glasgow in 1945, Eunice found employment in the kitchen at the North Side School. It was the first position in a career with the Glasgow Public Schools that would span nearly four decades. In 1957, Ray Matthews, then District Clerk, asked her to apply for a job in his office. She was hired as an Assistant Clerk and promoted to District Clerk in 1972, a position she held until her retirement in 1981. Moen recalls that the �60s and early �70s when the Glasgow Air Force Base was at the height of activity were some of the most challenging times of her tenure. Mr. Greer, superintendent, and Mr. Loomer, GHS principal, spent long hours organizing classes for hundreds of students attending school during three different shifts stretching from 7:00 A.M. until 6:00 P.M. Coordinating teacher and student schedules, bus routes, and extra-curricular activities kept each of them very busy.

Education was a family matter for the Burrus family. Not only Eunice, but also all three of her sisters were employed by the Glasgow Public Schools -- Madge as a teacher for many years, and Mary and Norma as office staff. In the early years, her father Mike Burrus drove school bus (a team and wagon) for one year.

Eunice (Burrus) Moen�s gift, like all donations to the trust, will be invested. The interest earned on the corpus, which now exceeds $3.8 million dollars, is awarded to eligible GHS alumni pursuing post-secondary education at vocational school or college through a semi-annual application process administered by the trustees. Students may apply by July 1st of each year for both semesters of the upcoming year, or by October 15th of each year for the spring semester only. Since its inception in 1964, the trust has given $1,545,150 dollars in financial aid to hundreds of different alumni, many of whom have received multiple gifts.

The trust also makes gifts to Glasgow High School for equipment and programs that cannot be financed within the regular school budget. These gifts benefit the entire student body and the community at large when they attend events at the school. The value of these gifts totals $180,327.53.

Whenever the trust receives donations in the name of particular individual that total $500, a gift is made to a student or the school in honor, memory, or recognition of that person. Donations to the trust of $10,000 or more entitle the donor to an annual naming opportunity in perpetuity. The first gift in memory and honor of the Moen sisters will be given in November 2013. The trust�s fiscal year begins July 1st, and memorials and honorariums are awarded at the next regular semi-annual meeting after the gift is received.

At its July semi-annual meeting the trust awarded the following gifts to eligible applicants for the 2013-2014 school year:

FIRST TIME RECIPIENTS

Devyn Bell, Gonzaga University, IHO Sever & Esther Enkerud; Kirsten Bense, MSU-Northern, IMO Robert �Bob� Farrell; Kelsey Borgen, MSU-Billings, IHO James and Ailene Dokken Olk Family; Emily Etchart, University of Montana, IMO Dr. F. M. & Bernice Knierim; Tyana Rasmusan, Adrian College, IHO Bill & Peggy Pattison; Anthony Shipman, University of Montana, IMO Horace O. & Emma C. Gamas; Samuel W. Smith, Weber State University, IRO Paul & Joyce Ruffcorn Jacobson; Shelby Stormer, University of Montana, IHO Charlotte Bruce; Melissa Unger, University of Montana, IMO Marsha Cotton Hall.

SECOND TIME RECIPIENTS

Erika Austin, MSU-Billings, IRO LeRoy & Bess Lockwood Family; Dillion Billman, Lake Region State College, IMO Richard �Dick� & Mary Lou Alley Wagenhals; Sienna Dailey, Minot State University, IHO Beryl Pehlke; Janice Griebel, MSU-Northern, IRO Williard & Charlotte Bruce Family; Marina Hansen, Montana State University, IMO L. J. and Jean Baker; Jeffrey Irving, Minot State University, IRO Ione & Phyllis Kleppin; Ethan Kliewer, Missoula College - UM, IRO Beatrice Trites Familiy; Dara Morehouse, University of North Dakota, IMO Ardis Parke Fuhrman; Ashley Roness, University of Montana, IMO Ivy and Millie Knight.

THIRD TIME RECIPIENTS

Emily Braaten, University of Mary, IMO James �Jamie� K. Fewer; Anna Breigenzer, Washington State University, IRO Tom & Flora Coghlan Family; Alacia Cole, University of Montana Skagg�s School of Pharmacy, IHO Beryl Pehlke; Jonathan Page, Montana State University, IMO James �Jamie� Fewer; Quinn Vaira, University of Montana, IMO Erik Walstad.

FOURTH TIME RECIPIENTS

Joseph Bergtoll, Jr., University of North Dakota, IMO Harry Rybock; William Daggett, Montana Tech -UM, IRO Willard & Charlotte Bruce Family; Melissa Chalmers Flood, Idaho State University, IHO Jeanette H. Corey; Nicholas Holom, Montana State University, IRO Arthur and Audrey Parke; Jesse Lawson, University of Montana, IMO Leonard H. & Kathryn L. Langen; Brittne Wersal, Northwestern Health Sciences University, IRO Willard & Charlotte Bruce Family.

FIFTH TIME RECIPIENT

Clayton Flood, Idaho State University, IMO Cecil & Chloe Toftness.

In addition to the gifts to students, the trust will gift to Glasgow High School 12 Kindle Fire Notebooks for the History Department, IMO Cecil & Chloe Toftness and an Elite electric potter�s wheel for the Art Department IRO Herb & Lucille Friedl Family.

More information about the trust, including donation forms, applications, and eligibility requirements, may be found on the trust�s website http://www.ghsedutrust.org/.