Panel will celebrate National First Generation Day

The Institute for Educational Opportunities will be hosting a panel discussion on November 7 at 2:00 pm in the Library Auditorium to commemorate national First Generation Day.

The panel participants are first-generation college graduates, Montana Tech alumni, and influential members of the Butte community. They are Melissa Swanson, a physical therapist at Intermountain Health; Leesla Jonart, risk management/contract administrator at Pioneer Technical; and Paul Babb, community relations manager at NorthWestern Energy.

The speakers provided the following biographies:

Paul Babb

Paul Babb is a lifelong resident of Butte, graduating from Butte High School and Montana Tech.  He currently is the manager of community relations for NorthWestern Energy, a position he has held since March2013.

Paul is responsible for working with, and building relationships with southwestern Montana residents, businesses, local government entities, and community groups in a variety of areas, including economic development, charitable giving, event sponsorships, and community outreach.  He is involved in several community boards and committees and enjoys volunteering at various community events.

On a personal note, Paul is married to Amy, and they have four children (three girls and a boy).  He enjoys most outdoor activities, and spending time with his family.

Leesla Jonart

I am Leesla Jonart, a proud first-generation college graduate. Raised by hardworking parents; my father was a boilermaker who often traveled across the United States for work, while my mother served as activities director at a nursing home. Growing up, the idea of attending college never crossed my mind; it wasn’t something we talked about at home. It wasn’t until I was taking my ACT test, having conversations with friends, and receiving guidance from my basketball coach, who highlighted the possibility of a basketball scholarship, that higher education became real possibility to me.

Navigating this uncharted path was filled with so many uncertainties. I did all the legwork myself, from understanding college applications to seeking scholarships. Initially, I received a basketball scholarship to Casper College with my coach’s help, but due to unforeseen family circumstances, I could not accept it and had to forgo this opportunity. With no backup plan, I quickly decided to attend Montana Tech, enrolling as an Oredigger without knowing about financial aid options. With the support of my parents, I managed the financial demands of my first year in college.

At Tech, I discovered the resources available to me. In my second year, I transferred to the University of Montana in Missoula. I was able to secure a little bit of financial aid to help me, but ultimately had to return home because the cost of tuition and living expenses were too much for me to afford. I took a gap semester to figure out my path and eventually landed a job with a company that valued education, and allowed me to attend Montana Tech with their financial support. They would only pay for 2 classes a semester, so it took me 10 years to earn my business degree. Graduating was one of my proudest achievements.

A few years later, after marrying and starting a family, I decided to continue my education. I earned a Master of Arts Degree from Ashford University. Being a first-generation college graduate has been incredibly rewarding for both me and my family. I’ve shown my family members and others the opportunities education can provide, inspiring them to pursue their own educational dreams. My degrees, combined with my hard work and determination to succeed independently, have opened doors to new opportunities and demonstrated the transformative power of education, no matter where you start.

Melissa Swanson

My name is Melissa Swanson and I was born and raised in Butte. I am the youngest of four children. My dad worked in the trades and traveled around the U.S. as a boilermaker. My mom was a stay-at-home mom until I began middle school and then worked for the Butte School District.

I went to and graduated from Butte High School in 1999. I was a 3-sport athlete, and during my senior season of basketball, I was beginning to get offers to continue and play collegiate basketball. After numerous campus visits, including Montana Tech, I knew Tech was the perfect fit.

I began my college degree with goals of becoming an athletic trainer or something within the healthcare field. I studied and obtained my bachelor’s degree in Applied Health Science and minor in Biology. During my years at Tech, interacting with numerous medical professionals, I decided to change gears and focused on becoming a physical therapist. After completing degrees and finishing my basketball career at Montana Tech, I was accepted into the first class of Doctorate of Physical Therapy Program at the University of Montana. I graduated in 2007, and immediately returned to my hometown and worked at SCL Health ever since. During this time, I also coached my daughters’ softball and basketball teams.

In my free time, if we’re not traveling across the state for sports, we enjoy camping, floating, going to the lake, and taking in all that Montana has to offer.

I am a proud first-generation graduate, but would not have been able to achieve the goals without the love, support and dedication my parents provided me during those years. They taught me the importance of a solid work ethic, perseverance and the determination to work around obstacles to achieve my personal and professional goals.