Area Students Among Hilleman Scholars

For Haylee Nay, attending college felt impossible. She couldn’t afford it.

The Montana State University freshman from East Helena lived on the poverty line for most of her life and would enter college as a first-generation student. Then, she discovered MSU’s Hilleman Scholars Program through a close friend.

“It was so shocking to me when I got in,” said Nay, who plans to study criminology and psychology. “I was like, ‘Oh, my gosh, I’m going to be able to go to school.’” Nay is one of 58 freshmen in the 10th class of Hilleman Scholars, who were selected for their academic, leadership and career potential among Montana students. Hilleman Scholars are eligible for up to $6,000 in academic support for their first year of college and $4,000 each year thereafter. They attend one class together each week, receive tutoring and are assigned peer mentors to help them thrive in college.

Area students selected as Hilleman scholars were Nevaeh Graham of Wolf Point, Hadyn Hauenstein of Culbertson and Victoria Wozniak of Wolf Point.

The program is named for Maurice Hilleman, who grew up on his family farm in Miles City and planned to work at a department store instead of attending college. With encouragement from his brother, Hilleman applied for a scholarship at MSU, then called Montana State College, and graduated at the top of his class in 1941.

In the following years, Hilleman became the world’s leading vaccinologist. He developed nine of 14 common vaccines given to children, including those for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, measles, meningitis, mumps and pneumonia.

To honor his legacy, MSU founded the Hilleman Scholars Program in 2016. The program invests in the future of Montana by educating its community members, said Carina Beck, program director and associate vice president of university initiatives for Student Success. This year, Hilleman Scholars represent 31 Montana towns and 34 are first-generation college students.

Olivia Jamison, a Hilleman Scholar from Choteau, said she values the free one-onone tutoring offered through the Hilleman program because she wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford that support. Growing up, she was drawn to MSU by its Bobcat football games and camaraderie, which she experienced this summer during nighttime study sessions with fellow scholars in Romney Hall.

“You’re all going through the same thing, so you become really close and lean on each other for support,” said Jamison, who hopes to become a physician specializing in women’s health. “I’m just excited to go into this next semester with 57 other people I know and really good friends.”

Hilleman Scholars also spend at least 10 hours per week on additional academic development, community service, undergraduate research and internships. If they demonstrate commitment to excellence in academics and the program, students can earn $3,000 for a group study abroad experience their junior year.