UM News Service
MISSOULA – The University of Montana Alumni Association has selected four recipients for this year’s Distinguished Alumni Awards.
The award recipients are individuals who have distinguished themselves in a particular field, bringing honor to the University, state or nation. The recipients are respected in their careers and communities and selected by the UMAA Board of Directors.
Dr. Kenneth Beattie, ’66, is a pioneering scientist in the fields of microbiology and biotechnology. Growing up in Montana, he was first inspired to become a scientist when he visited the Rocky Mountain Labratories in Hamilton as a high school student. He studied bacteriology at UM, earning a bachelor’s degree in 1966. He went on to earn a master’s degree in microbiology and a Ph.D. from the University of Tennessee. Beattie is a leader in the scientific community, with several influential publications and contributions to laboratory techniques and research.
Kaye Ebelt, ’84, is a distinguished educator with nearly 40 years of service as a teacher. She earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from UM, as well as a master’s degree in science education and a master’s in education later in her career. Ebelt taught elementary students in St. Regis, Chester and Missoula before accepting a position at the prestigious Greene School in Florida, where teachers are encouraged to implement innovative methods. Ebelt is also a commercial glider pilot and is working to be a certified flight instructor.
Dr. Paul Maykish, ’92, dedicated his career to serving his country, reaching the rank of colonel after decades of military service. Maykish holds a degree in resource management from UM, degrees from Yale University and the National War College, as well as a Ph.D. from Air University. Maykish was deployed 11 times and spent his time back in the United States volunteering for homeless and imprisoned populations. He was awarded the Defense Distinguished Service Medal and the Legion of Merit medal. Currently, he serves as a senior adviser to the special competitive studies project, an organization focused on ensuring America’s leadership in technologies like artificial general intelligence.
Pamela Wright, ’87, earned her English degree from UM and spent a decade as a researcher for a private firm in Missoula. Wright then took a position at the National Archives, working in initial processing and declassification. In 2012, she became the first chief innovation officer at the National Archives and Records Administration. She oversaw the digitization of the archives’ vast store of documents, photographs and artifacts, helping make millions of records accessible to the public. She has received the Archivist Achievement Award several times and was the first National Archives employee to be awarded the Distinguished Executive Presidential Rank Award.
UMAA and UM will welcome these outstanding alumni to campus during Homecoming week for an awards banquet. To learn more about the award and this year’s recipients, visit the UMAA’s website.
For questions or additional information, email alumni@umontana.edu,