First-generation student from Anaconda finds confidence and purpose at Montana Tech
Growing up in Anaconda, Halli Weis always knew she wanted to go to college—even if no one in her family had before.
“I grew up poor with a single mom until I was about five or six,” Weis said. “None of my family members had ever gone to college, but they always pushed me to do it. They wanted me to have the opportunity for higher education.”
Weis said her mother worked hard to make sure her children never felt the strain of financial hardship. “When I was young, I never knew I was poor,” she said. “My mom did a very good job of making sure we didn’t know that we were struggling.”
That early determination to build a more stable future led Weis straight from high school to Montana Technological University, where she eventually found her home in geophysical engineering—a field that lets her balance her love of the outdoors with problem-solving and science.
“I love that geophysics lets me work in the field while using physics and math to figure out what’s going on beneath the surface of the Earth,” Weis said. “It’s like being an X-ray tech, but for the planet.”
When Weis arrived at Montana Tech, she wasn’t sure where to start. A family connection introduced her to TRIO Student Support Services, and a visit to the office quickly led to new opportunities—including a position as an AmeriCorps team leader working with youth in Anaconda.
“My dad actually knew someone in the TRIO office,” Weis said. “He told me I should go talk to her, even though I didn’t really know what TRIO was at the time. From there, I started working in the office and then joined AmeriCorps. It was a really awesome and helpful opportunity.”
Through TRIO and AmeriCorps, Weis helped organize youth events, tutor local students, and assist with the Upward Bound summer program. While she received occasional tutoring help, she said her TRIO experience was largely about helping others.
“I’ve mainly been on the helping side of things,” she said. “I like being able to support students who are going through what I did.”
Weis also honed her leadership skills, immersed herself in foreign culture and made new friends when she participated in the Keith Sherin Global Leadership Program in the Netherlands in summer 2024. Weis qualified for the highly competitive program through her participation in TRIO.
“Going to the Netherlands was an incredible opportunity,” Weis said.
As a first-generation student, Weis said the hardest part of college wasn’t the coursework—it was finding her confidence.
“I was extremely shy and antisocial when I first started,” she said. “Going to career fairs or talking in front of people used to make me shake. Now, at least I just turn red,” she joked. “Pushing myself to be part of the college community has made all the difference.”
Her persistence has paid off. Weis recently earned a teaching assistant position and is developing a graduate-level learning module in geophysical mineral exploration—an impressive achievement for an undergraduate. She also completed a summer internship with Montana Resources and will head to Nevada next summer to intern at a silver and gold mine.
Weis hopes to explore opportunities outside of Montana after graduation next fall. She has advice for other prospective first-generation students.
“For anyone thinking about college—especially first-generation students—my advice is to just do it,” she said. “Look for something you’re interested in, not just what makes money. If you find something you love learning about, it makes all the hard work worth it.”
The Institute of Educational Opportunities will be hosting a series of events celebrating first-generation college students, staff, and faculty on November 5 through 7, as part of a National First-Generation College Student Day on November 8. Please join us in the celebration by participating in any or all of the events below:
1st Generation College Student Celebration Day Resource Fair
Wednesday, November 5 | 11:00 am-1:00 pm | Copper Lounge
Campus and community partners will table to provide information and resources to support all students.
1st Generation Speaker Panel
Thursday, November 6 | 3:30 pm-5:00 pm | Library Auditorium
Join us to hear the experiences and stories of our campus and community members who were first-generation college trailblazers themselves and learn where their journey has taken them.
Auction/Bingo Night!
Friday, November 7 | 6:30 pm-8:00 pm | Knights of Columbus
Join us as the fun continues with bingo and an auction of great items from Fairmont Hot Springs, Lewis & Clark Trail Adventures, Montana Whitewater, Griz Athletics, and more!