Montana Resources, Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation support Highlands College welding program
From left to right:
Bernie Phelps (Director, Dual Enrollment & Highlands College Grant Funding), Pete Steilman (Safety Manager Montana Resources), Jim LeProwse (Welding Instructor), Tammy Burke (Dean of Highlands College), Shannon Panisko (VP of Development Montana Tech Foundation)
Highlands College of Montana Tech received a $71,400 welding program grant from the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation to support the college’s welding program. The grant was awarded in conjunction with Montana Resources.
The funding will be used to purchase new welding equipment, helping ensure students train using modern tools and technology aligned with current industry standards.
“This gift is critical for student success,” Highlands College Dean Tammy Burke said. “As technology continues to advance, students need to have the most up-to-date equipment to prepare them for the current workforce and this generous donation will provide them that opportunity.”
Representatives from Montana Resources and the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation joined Highlands College leadership and students to celebrate the gift during a campus event.
“This donation enhances the hands-on learning experience for our students and strengthens our ability to produce job-ready graduates equipped with the technical skills and real-world experience needed to succeed in today's welding industry,” Director of Dual Enrollment and Highlands College Grant Funding Bernie Phelps said.
“We are deeply grateful to the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation and Montana Resources for their generous investment in our welding program at Highlands College,” Montana Tech Foundation Vice President of Development and Philanthropic Engagement Shannon Panisko said. “Their support ensures our students have access to top-tier equipment and opportunities, empowering them to excel and shape the future of Montana’s workforce."
“We know that welding and other trades are great careers for students to consider, and we want Highlands College to have the actual tools needed to deliver a great education,” said Jon Bennion, Executive Director of the Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation.
This is the latest in a long history of generous support given by Montana Resources and the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation to Montana Tech and Highlands College. In 2017, the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation and Montana Resources established the Montana Resources Opportunity Scholarship at Montana Technological University. The award was renamed the Rolin Erickson Scholarship in 2021. Since it was first established, 30 students have received support through the program. Looking ahead to next year, 16 students will be enrolled and benefiting from the scholarship, including three new Rolin Erickson recipients for the 2026–27 academic year.
In 2024, Montana Resources and the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation donated $120,000 to the Montana Tech Foundation to fund scholarships at Highlands College for high school graduates from Butte. The Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation Highlands College Scholarship supports students in the welding and automotive technology programs.
Applications are open now for fall 2026 at Montana Tech and Highlands College. Montana Tech is Montana’s STEM university, offering everything from doctoral to bachelor’s degrees in in the science, technology, engineering, math, and healthcare disciplines. Highlands College of Montana Tech offers associate degrees, certificates, and career-ready programs with industry recognized credentials designed to meet workforce needs across Montana and the region, including welding, radiologic technology, automotive technology, construction technology-carpentry, pre-apprentice line, mining engineering technology, behavioral health technician, certified nursing assistant, commercial driver’s license, precision machining technology, web administration and development. Beginning in Fall 2026, Highlands College will offer three new broadband-focused programs, including a Heavy Equipment Operation Certificate, a Fiber Optic Splicing Certificate, and Warehousing Certificate, all of which are stackable into the Certificate of Applied Science in Broadband Technology.
To apply, visit https://mtech.edu/admissions-aid/undergraduate-admission/index.html