October 26, 2016
Montana Western senior Tess Turk was recently named "Volunteer of the Game" by Montana Campus Compact and the Governor's Office of Community Service.
Montana Western senior Tess Turk was recently named “Volunteer of the Game” by Montana Campus Compact and the Governor’s Office of Community Service.
Montana Campus Compact and the Governor’s Office of Community Service are recognizing student volunteers at one home game for each of Montana’s five Frontier Conference NAIA institutions this football season. Turk will be honored during halftime of Montana Western’s home game against Southern Oregon University on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2016.
“We’re very proud of Tess and her dedication to serving the community and Montana Western,” Chancellor Beth Weatherby said. “Between her school work, rodeo and volunteering, Tess takes on quite a full load, but the campus and community all benefit from her hard work and we’re grateful to have her at UMW.”
The Elko, Nev. native was selected by her peers to be the Big Sky Regional student director for the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association. As a student director, she is involved in the business side of the Collegiate National Finals Rodeo. Turk is active in the planning process for this premier collegiate rodeo event, where she helps in selecting the awards as well as hiring personnel from the judges to the rodeo clowns.
She is currently the president of the Montana Western rodeo club and team captain for the rodeo team. She coordinates the club’s annual banquet which has helped to raise over $40,000 for scholarships at Montana Western. Turk also helps plan the annual UMW rodeo which brings in over 10 men’s and women’s rodeo teams from throughout the region to Dillon.
Turk has also served as a student senator for the Associated Students of the University of Montana Western.
“Tess has greatly strengthened our rodeo program on both the athletic and administrative side,” Head Rodeo Coach Olie Else said. “She brings a tremendous level of skill and a selfless attitude to everything she does and I’m honored to work with her.”
In addition to her work on campus, Turk volunteers around the community helping to organize UMW’s presence in the Dillon Jaycees Labor Day parade as well as a fund and gift drive for families in need around the holidays.
Montana Campus Compact is Montana’s largest higher education network and works to improve community life by educating students for civic and social responsibility.
The Governor’s Office of Community Service expands and promotes national service and volunteerism in Montana and engages citizens in service and emergency preparedness.
— Montana Western —
