Meet Our 2011 Honorary Homecoming Parade Marshals
Hal and Sheila Stearns
This year's Honorary Homecoming Parade Marshals, Hal and Sheila Stearns of Helena, have long worked to improve the educational opportunities available to their fellow Montanans. A native of Glendive, Dr. Sheila Stearns has served as Montana's Commissioner of Higher Education since 2003. She entered higher education as an undergraduate at UM, earning a bachelor's degree in English in 1968, followed by a master's in history in 1969 and a doctoral degree in education in 1983. The UM Alumni Association takes pride in noting that Sheila's earliest work on campus included a short period as our Director of Alumni Relations. Prior to her service as commissioner, Sheila also served as UM's Vice-President for University Relations and as Chancellor of UM-Western in Dillon. After serving as president of Wayne State College in Nebraska, she returned to Montana to assume the post of commissioner. She will retire from that position in spring 2012.
Dr. Hal Stearns began at UM as a graduate student in history, earning his master's degree in 1966. He went on to earn a doctoral degree in education in 1978. A native of Harlowton, Hal Stearns taught history for 34 years at Missoula's Sentinel High School, in Germany and at The University of Montana. He was honored as Montana Teacher of the Year and as Outstanding U.S. History Teacher, and has received two grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities in support of his work. Over the course of his 35 years of service in the Montana National Guard, Hal attained the rank of Brigadier General.
Previous Honorary Homecoming Parade Marshals
2010: Jim and Nancy Caron
2009: Mick Hanson, Ron Burnell and Charlie Thorne
2008: John and Tracy Engen
2007: Monte Dolack and Mary Beth Percival
2006: Bill and Jo Reynolds
2005: Fred Nelson
2004: Nancy Cooper
