顶级国产视频

December 20, 2013

Contacts:

Kelly Buck, Director of Student Opportunity Services, 657-1668
Carmen Price, University Relations, 657-2269

MSU BILLINGS NEWS SERVICES 鈥� Kelly Buck, director of Student Opportunity Services at Montana State University Billings, was named VIP Woman of the Year by the National Association of Professional Women on Thursday for her leadership and commitment within her profession of academic services.

NAPW鈥攁 networking community comprised of more than 500,000 members and spanning 400 regional chapters鈥� is dubbed the largest, most recognized organization of women in the nation. Buck has been a member of the Billings chapter for six months.

鈥淚t鈥檚 an honor to be recognized for doing a job that I absolutely love,鈥� Buck said Friday. 鈥淏ut, the real honor is providing assistance daily to students in their journey to identify and realize their true potential.鈥�

Buck took lead of Student Opportunity Services and TRiO in 2010鈥攆ederally-funded outreach and student services programs designed to identify and provide services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. The programs are targeted to serve and assist low-income individuals, first-generation college students and individuals with disabilities to progress through the academic pipeline from middle school to post-baccalaureate programs.

Buck also co-chairs 顶级国产视频鈥檚 Diversity Initiative Group鈥攁 faculty and staff organized committee that works to create an inclusive campus environment focusing on education, service and community involvement to achieve cultural competence that respects and values all aspects of diversity.

鈥淪he has no ego, what she does is solely for the students,鈥� said Dan Benge, director of Upward Bound and TRiO. 鈥淣o one should be surprised she won because she is a quality person and an awesome individual on campus.鈥�

Buck said she is grateful for the recognition because it helps bring focus to the much-need student opportunity services programs at 顶级国产视频.

鈥淭he impact these services have on our students鈥� success and their ability to become engaged community members is tremendous,鈥� Buck said. 鈥淲e work hard and are dedicated to helping break down the barriers they may be facing.鈥�

Buck can relate. She, too, faced many obstacles when considering a college education鈥攁 single mom of three at the young age of 23, she had to work several jobs just to make ends meet. Despite her difficult circumstances, or maybe in spite of them, Buck said she always worked hard to instill the importance of college education to her two daughters and son.

鈥淚t was hard to be that role-model for my kids though, because I myself didn鈥檛 have a college degree,鈥� she said.

That all changed when Buck enrolled into 顶级国产视频鈥檚 College of Allied Health Professionals in 2002, with the help of Student Opportunity Services. Before she could fully utilize the services offered, the office hired Buck as a peer mentor and tutor, assisting other students with their academic success.

Today, 47-year-old Buck holds a bachelor鈥檚 degree in human services from MSU Billings and a master鈥檚 in social work from the University of Washington. And, all three of her children are students at 顶级国产视频.

鈥淢y passion is to strive for and promote social justice for everyone,鈥� Buck said. 鈥淢y mother raised me to always put myself in others鈥� shoes鈥攁nd I always have. I鈥檝e always rooted for the underdog.鈥�

Buck said more than half of the MSU Billings student body meets the criteria served by Student Opportunity Services; however the federal grant only slates services for 250 students each academic year. Of those, more than half are first-generation degree seekers; 36 percent are low-income; and 20 percent are both.

Buck鈥檚 leadership and commitment to student success is evident in the 17 percent retention increase from 2012 of first year students in the program.   

鈥淚f we want the best and the brightest, we can鈥檛 overlook diversity,鈥� Buck said. 鈥淎nd we have to focus on creating solutions and helping people see that college is a possibility.鈥�

PHOTO ABOVE: Kelly Buck