HELENA – Carroll College recently awarded $140,000 in scholarships to 12 students through the Elsie P. Corette Memorial Scholarship as well as the Roy F. Simperman Math, Science and Nursing Scholarships. This year marks 51 years since the establishment of the Elsie P. Corette Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship was created at Carroll College through the generosity of Mr. John E. Corette of Butte, Montana, and by his children, in memory of his wife and their mother.
Three students from Montana, who intend to pursue medical school upon graduation, were recipients of the 2023-2024 Elsie P. Corette Memorial Scholarship established at Carroll College. The Corette Scholarship is available to Carroll pre-med majors from Montana through the generosity of 1962 Carroll graduate Roy Simperman of Mercer Island, Washington, who has supported the scholarship since 1994 upon the death of his former father-in-law Mr. John Corette. Simperman is the chairman and chief executive officer of Semaphore Corporation in Seattle. Awards are based on financial need and promise of success in medical school. Since 1973, approximately 208 Corette Scholarships have been conferred, totaling nearly $1,394,000, with a large majority of recipients going on to become medical doctors.
2023-2024 Corette Scholarship recipients are:
- Geri Cutler, junior, biology major, Helena
- Benjamin Held, junior, biology major, Great Falls
- James Normandeau, junior, biochemistry major, Ronan
Carroll College also named three nursing students as the recipients of the 2023-2024 Roy F. Simperman Nursing Scholarship, established by Mr. Roy Simperman as well. In addition, six math and science majors have been awarded the Simperman Math and Science Scholarship.
The Roy F. Simperman Math, Science and Nursing Scholarships provide immediate funds to Montana students needing financial assistance who are majoring in math, nursing or science with a minimum 3.5 grade point average. The scholarships are awarded to equalize the cost of attending Carroll College relative to Montana public colleges and universities. In the fourteen years that the Simperman Math, Science and Nursing Scholarships have existed at Carroll, $1,232,500 has been provided to 107 students.
2023-2024 Simperman Math, Science and Nursing Scholarship recipients are:
- Brynn Bohrer, sophomore, biology major, Billings
- Abraham Montalvo, sophomore, math major, Terry
- Kenna Thomas, sophomore, biology major, Belgrade
- Baylee Herman, incoming first-year, biochemistry major, Simms
- Shea Ostberg, incoming first-year, biology major, Fairfield
- Maylah Thorne, incoming first-year, biology major, Stevensville
- Elaina Patten, junior, nursing major, Helena
- elaney Hasquet, junior, nursing major, Butte
- Sophia Sullivan, junior, nursing major, Butte
Over the years, the Simperman Math, Science and Nursing Scholarships and the Corette Scholarships have provided over $2,626,500 in aid to deserving students. This year’s average award was over $11,666.
According to Dr. John Cech, president of Carroll College, this scholarship support has been instrumental in providing education to over 312 students. “The extraordinary generosity of the Corette family and Roy and Frances Simperman has enabled numerous students to pursue their academic dreams and shape their future,” said Cech. “Their contribution towards education has been invaluable, and the college is deeply grateful for the philanthropic support of the Corette and Simperman families. By investing in the education of these students, they have not only empowered them but also ensured a brighter future for the community and the world. Carroll College is committed to preparing the next generation of leaders, and these scholarships have been a significant step towards achieving this goal.”
More Information on the Elsie Corette Memorial Scholarship
The Elsie Corette Memorial Scholarship was created at Carroll College through the generosity of Mr. John E. Corette of Butte, Montana, and by his children, in memory of his wife and their mother. Elsie Corette was born in 1907 to Peter and Mary Pauly of Deer Lodge. Peter was a co-founder of the Williams and Pauly ranch, which by the early 1950s stretched from east of Drummond to near the top of McDonald Pass.
In late September of 1930, Elsie went to Missoula to be a teaching instructor in the University of Montana History Department and continue work on her master’s degree in English. Two years later, she married a lawyer, Jack Corette. They moved to Butte, where Jack served as chairman and chief executive officer of Montana Power Company. Mr. Corette also served on the Carroll College board of trustees. In 1971, Elsie died, and Jack proposed the idea of a scholarship trust account at Carroll College for pre-med students who might practice in Montana.
Since Mr. Corette’s death in 1994, this scholarship fund has been generously supported by Roy F. Simperman of Mercer Island, Washington, a graduate of Carroll’s class of 1962, in memory of Mr. Simperman’s deceased wife, Diane, who was the daughter of Jack and Elsie Corette. Diane Simperman served on the Corette Scholarship Committee for many years. Mr. Simperman is the chairman and chief executive officer of Semaphore Corporation.