Spirit of Montana Award

Past recipients of the governor's Spirit of Montana Award include:

• Chief Dann Babcox, recognizing his 25 years as Fire Chief of the Park County Rural Fire District, awarded April 2, 2026
• Norma Smith, recognizing her 26 years in broadcast journalism and lifetime of service in Great Falls, awarded January 28, 2026
• Dawn Bauer, recognizing her work at Superior Schools to support students and the community, awarded January 19, 2026
• James Crawford, recognizing his commitment to innovation and excellence through his work with the Helena Regional Airport Authority, awarded May 27, 2025
• Technical Sergeant Cassandra Hackley, recognizing her exceptional service, leadership, and dedication to strengthening relationships between Malmstrom Air Force Base and communities across Montana, awarded August 20, 2025
• Vernon Kuhlmann, recognizing him for service to country during World War II and his community upon his return, awarded June 4, 2025
• President Waded Crusado, recognizing her service to students, facility, and the people of Montana as president of Montana State University, awarded May 2, 2025
• Grayson Williams and Chancy Segeberg, recognizing their effort to provide life-saving support to a friend in a time of need, awarded October 20, 2024
• Cheryl Russel, recognizing her dedication to strengthening communities and significantly impacting the lives of our special education students in Havre Public Schools for nearly 30 years, awarded July 10, 2024
• Dawn Smartnick, recognizing her dedication to strengthening our communities and investing in your students at Jefferson High School, awarded February 5, 2024
• Mac Minard and Montana Outfitters and Guides Association, recognizing their collaboration with the Montana Citizens’ Elk Management Coalition, the Private Land / Public Wildlife Advisory Committee, and a bipartisan group of legislators to deliver wins for sportsmen, outfitters, and landowners, awarded October 23, 2023
• Pete Pace, recognizing his commitment to promoting trades and STEM education, awarded September 14, 2023
• Mary Orler, recognizing the longtime healthcare provider, for her more than 46 years of service as a nurse to the Red Lodge community. awarded August 11, 2023
• Kelcey and Nancy Diemert, recognizing the Hi-Line resident, for their entrepreneurial spirit and long-time commitment to their community, awarded July 19, 2023
• Mary Louise Peters, recognizing the Northwest Montana resident, for her continued support of the Fish, Wildlife & Parks block management program, awarded June 8, 2023
• Officer Alex Vance, recognizing the Great Falls Police Department officer, for his quick, decisive action that saved a man’s life, awarded May 10, 2023
• Shirlee Boitnott, recognizing the Marine Corps League volunteer, for selflessly serving her community and Montana’s veterans as a dedicated volunteer, awarded December 1, 2022
• Missoula Fire Department, recognizing the firefighters, for executing a technical rescue of an injured paraglider who crashed into a tree, awarded September 15, 2022
• Riverside Contracting, recognizing the construction crew, for their highly skilled, swift response to the historic flooding of the Yellowstone River, awarded July 1, 2022
• Lewistown Police Department, recognizing the K9 unit, for their work in keeping drugs off the street and protecting the Lewistown community, awarded June 7, 2022
• Hallie Mitchell, recognizing the Chinook High School student, for her entrepreneurial spirit as the small business owner of Boss Mare Beading, awarded April 28, 2022
• Jazmin Gorder, recognizing the Poplar High School student-athlete, president of the student council, and two-time state wrestling champion for inspiring other young women, awarded April 21, 2022
• Sandhills Sewing & Vacuum, recognizing the company that has served eastern Montana for over 50 years, awarded March 24, 2022
• Elysian Schools Lighthouse Committee, recognizing students who made and distributed gift bags for health care workers during the pandemic, awarded March 2, 2022
• Anaconda Foundry Fabrication Company, recognizing the foundry’s critical role in quickly building a part to help repair the Hebgen Dam, awarded January 25, 2022
• Noah Jensen, recognizing the Glacier High School senior who launched the nonprofit “Cleats for Kids” program, awarded December 16, 2021
• Madison Valley Women's Club, recognizing the club’s 100 years of service to its community, awarded August 10, 2021
• Billings Fire Department Technical Rescue Team, recognizing the team for saving the life of a man trapped in a silo, awarded June 30, 2021
• Betsy Schaffer, recognizing the Special Olympics Montana's 2020 Athlete of the Year for her accomplishments and for inspiring others with her joy and love of life, awarded June 24, 2021
• Rob Selvig, recognizing the former University of Montana women's basketball coach for 38 years of service and his legacy of inspiring Montana girls and young women to play basketball, awarded May 13, 2021
• Desiree Bain, recognizing the director of the Willis Cruse House in Helena for her service to Montana veterans, awarded April 29, 2021