Montana Tech to bestow 2025 Chancellor’s Award of Distinction, Distinguished Alumni Awards
Montana Technological University will recognize two Chancellor’s Award of Distinction recipients and four Distinguished Alumni recipients at the Butte Country Club on Friday, October 3, 2025 at 6 p.m.
Chancellor Johnny MacLean will bestow the University’s highest honor to Julie Bossard Norman and Gordon Parker.
Established in 2021, the Chancellor’s Award of Distinction is the highest honor given by Montana Technological University and recognizes individuals who exemplify the most distinguished personal and professional accomplishments. The award is given at the sole discretion of the chancellor to recognize an alumnus or friend of the University who through their accomplishments, support, and association has brought distinction to Montana Tech.
“It is my distinct pleasure to award Julie Norman and Gordon Parker with Montana Technological University's highest honor,” MacLean said. “They are both incredible examples of determined doers who became leaders in their respective fields as they met America's emerging needs. While Montana Tech is proud of all of our alumni, Julie Norman and Gordon Parker have contributed in such noteworthy ways that they certainly deserve this prestigious award."
Four alumni will be recognized as distinguished alumni. The awards are conferred by the Montana Tech Alumni Association and recognizes individuals who have contributed in an outstanding manner to the furtherance of his or her profession and/or has been an outstanding contributor to Montana Tech. Receiving the award are: Stacy Aguirre (A.S. Engineering, ’86; B.S. Engineering Science, ‘87), Marjorie McDonald (B.S., Safety, Health, and Industrial Hygiene, ’05), Kevin McDonough (B.S. Environmental Engineering, ’97; M.S. Mining Engineering, ’99), and Jack Standa (B.S. Mining Engineering, ‘89).
“The Montana Tech Foundation and our partners in the Montana Tech Alumni Association are honored to celebrate the recipients of the 2025 Chancellor’s Award of Distinction and our Distinguished Alumni,” Montana Tech Foundation Vice President of Development and Philanthropic Engagement Shannon Panisko said. “These individuals embody the very best of Montana Tech through their accomplishments, leadership, and service. Their impact extends far beyond our campus, and we are deeply grateful for the pride, generosity, and inspiration our alumni bring to the Montana Tech community.”
More about the award recipients:
Julie Bossard Norman
Julie Bossard Norman (B.S. Occupational Safety and Health, ’78) was the first woman to be honored as a Distinguished Alumni Award winner in 1989. She is also the first woman to receive the Chancellor’s Award.
Norman’s roots at Montana Tech run deep thanks to her father, Floyd Bossard, who graduated from the Montana School of Mines and later became an associate professor there. Bossard helped lead the effort to establish the bachelor of science program in environmental engineering in 1972 and the bachelor of science program in occupational safety and health in 1976.
After working for Shell Oil and completing her graduate work at the University of Texas, Julie returned to Montana Tech in 1984 to share her knowledge and experience with Montana Tech’s students as a professor and department head for the Safety, Health and Industrial Hygiene program.
After nearly 16 years at Montana Tech, Julie went on to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, Massachusetts where she served as the senior associate dean for undergraduate education. Between 2005-2017, Norman was head of the Amgen Scholars Program which supported undergraduate research at 17 universities worldwide. Through her recruitment and advocacy efforts, more than a dozen Montana Tech students had the opportunity to engage in research at MIT. Numerous other Montana students spent their summers researching at Stanford University; Harvard University; the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and other top tier institutions.
Norman continued to serve Montana Tech as a member of the Montana Tech Foundation’s Board of Directors from 2005-2011.
In October of 2018, Norman retired from MIT and now fills her day traveling, playing golf, spending time with her grandchildren, and visiting the beach.
Gordon Parker
As chairman and CEO of Newmont Mining Corp., Gordon R. Parker (B.S. Mining Engineering, ’58 and M.S. Mineral Dressing Engineering, ’59) maneuvered a diversified mining company through multiple hostile takeover events of the 1980s. Parker’s leadership was pivotal in preserving Newmont’s independence. His commitment to protecting corporate assets and preserving shareholders’ interests was unmatched in the turmoil of the “finance capitalism” assault on American mining companies.
The South Africa-born Parker joined Newmont’s Namibian affiliate, Tsumeb Corp., as a student in 1954 and was awarded a bursary to attend the Montana School of Mines. After graduating from Montana Tech, he returned to Namibia and worked in various underground capacities at the Tsumeb Mine. He moved to O’okiep Copper Co., another Newmont affiliate, as an assistant mine superintendent in 1964. He earned an MBA from the University of Cape Town in 1966, receiving its Old Mutual Medal. In 1975, he was appointed managing director of Tsumeb Corp. and O’okiep Copper Co. He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Engineering by Montana School of Mines in 1985.
Parker joined Newmont in New York in 1981 as vice president of operations. He was elected CEO in 1985 and chairman in 1986.By the time of Parker’s retirement in 1995, Newmont was once again widely held and remains so today.
Parker played a leading role in the creation of the World Gold Council and served as founding chairman. His concern for an equitable resolution of federal laws governing mineral exploration and mining extraction and their impact on the well-being of the U.S. mining industry led to the creation of the Mineral Alliance, of which he became chairman. As vice chairman, Parker revitalized the American Mining Congress, now known as the National Mining Association. He was a founder of the National Mining Hall of Fame.
Marjorie McDonald
Marjorie McDonald, a Certified Safety Professional (CSP), serves as the director of safety and occupational health for the Department of the Army. She leads the Army’s safety and occupational health program, focused on mitigating risks to the warfighter and ensuring mission success. McDonald advises senior leaders and ensures the protection of personnel and materiel across all Army operations. Her expertise spans a broad range of safety disciplines, including operational safety, aviation, fire prevention, chemical, occupational safety, and health.
She previously served as the chief of safety and occupational health for the Great Lakes and Ohio River Division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. She held leadership roles within the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
She is a 2005 graduate of Montana Tech with a B.S. in Safety, Health, and Industrial Hygiene, a 2013 graduate of Eastern Kentucky University with an M.S. in Safety, Security, and Emergency Management, and a 2024 Graduate of the US Naval War College.
Stacy Aguirre
Stacy Aguirre earned her B.S in Engineering Science from Montana Tech in 1987.
Stacy currently works in environmental matters for the oil and gas production industry. She has extensive knowledge and skills in the areas of environmental permitting, compliance, protection, mitigation, and remediation for air quality, water quality, and waste management. Additionally, she has diverse experience in project engineering and management to meet environmental compliance requirements for construction and facility operations, and maintenance practices and processes; systems integration and implementation; and, risk-based decision-making and management.
She previously worked as a systems engineer on the research and development team for the magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) technology development and testing. Her work was conducted at a research facility in Butte. The technology is referenced in the movie “The Hunt for Red October.” Aguirre published material about the technology development and presented at an engineering symposium on the associated reliability program.
Stacy also previously served as director of Montana Tech’s Career Services, an opportunity she characterizes as her “dream job.” She was in this role for 7 years (1998-2005), during which time she started the Montana Tech Career Fair in 2000, now in its 25th year. Stacy also served in other roles at Montana Tech including director of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving at the Montana Tech Foundation, where she worked with the team to build fundraising and alumni relations programs.
Stacy is also an alumna of Powell County High School in Deer Lodge.
Kevin McDonough
Kevin McDonough was born and raised in the southwest suburbs of Chicago. After a trip to the Rockies as a teen, he was called to Big Sky Country in 1992 after graduating valedictorian from Lockport Township High School in Illinois. He earned two engineering degrees from Montana Tech including a B.S. in Environmental Engineering in 1997 and M.S. in Mining Engineering in 1999. He attributes much of his professional success to the robust and rigorous education provided by Montana Tech. He went on to earn his MBA from the University of Notre Dame.
As a Montana Tech student, McDonough embraced the college life as a member of Newman Center Campus Ministry, Associated Students of Montana Tech, Montana Tech Wrestling Team, Student Entertainment Committee, and as a DJ and manager of Montana Tech’s legendary radio station, KMSM, “The King of the Hill.”
McDonough started his professional career as an intern at Montana Resources that led to a full-time engineering position at the Continental Pit Mining operation. He considers it a great honor to have been a part of Butte’s legendary mining history.
After moving back to the Midwest in late 1999, McDonough joined UCC as a staff engineer and began a 26-year career that continues to this day. His career has included roles of systems engineer, project engineer, project manager, aftermarket parts sales manager, field sales manager, director of sales – Americas, vice president of global sales, executive Vice President, and chief revenue officer (CRO) and now president. UCC Environmental (previously known as United Conveyor Corporation) is a global leader in engineered solutions for water and wastewater treatment, air pollution control, and material handling applications in power generation, mining, and other heavy industrial markets. With thousands of reference installations in over 65 countries, since 1920 UCC has worked to provide sustainable solutions that balance energy reliability with environmental stewardship.
McDonough has been a thought leader and has been honored to leverage his Montana Tech education to help U.S. utilities and industrial installations achieve compliance goals under the Air Quality Act, Clean Water Act, and Coal Combustion Residual regulations, while optimizing efficiencies and enabling improved operating performance.
He is most proud of his amazing wife of 29 years, Katherine (Gallagher) McDonough (B.S. Business, 1996). His sons, Dylan and Declan, are both current students at Montana Tech.
Kevin and Kathy maintain a second residence in Butte, visit their sons and family members often, and enjoy skiing, fishing, hiking and all things that make Butte and Montana the “last best place on earth.”
Jack Standa
Jack Standa has served as the president of Montana Resources in Butte since October of 2020. Prior to Montana Resources, Jack spent over 20 years internationally, primarily in Indonesia and Australia.
He is a proud 1989 graduate of Montana Tech and a 1984 graduate of Granite County High School in Philipsburg. Jack also holds an M.S. in Geotechnical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley and an MBA from the University of Chicago.
His wife, Nia, is from Indonesia and they have been married for over 25 years. In 2017, they moved back to the United States when Jack began working for Westmoreland Coal in Colstrip and their son Jacob entered the University of Chicago. Jack and Nia enjoy living in Butte and are especially grateful to be living near Jack's family in Philipsburg, Montana.