Outer space

Ian McKay, of Columbia Falls, was one of four Rocky Mountain College seniors selected for the Montana Space Grant Consortium Awards for Research in Engineering and Science for the spring semester of the 2011-2012 academic year. McKay is an aviation major. The ARES project consists of a student and faculty mentor working as a team on research that goes beyond what is taught in the classroom. This honor reflects the students’ past achievements as well as their present and future commitment to NASA’s mission. Each award consists of a stipend of $750 per semester.

Volunteers needed

Montana Conservation Corps is seeking adventurous teenagers 15-17 years old for their Youth Service Expedition program, a four-week, summer service experience that combines outdoor adventure, education, job skills training and fun. Projects will be a mix of “backcountry spikes,” where crews are packed a few miles in, and “front country spikes,” where a crew car camps near the project site. During the weekends, teenagers take a break from project work and participate in recreation, exploration, education and relaxation. Crews will be based out of Kalispell, Missoula, Helena, Bozeman and Billings from June 11 to July 6 and July 16 to Aug. 10. Participants will receive a service award of $200 dollars upon successful completion of program. For more information, call Jen Rusnak at 406-587-4475 or e-mail jen@mtcorps.org or visit online at www.mtcorps.org. Deadline is June 8 for first session and July 13 for second session, but early applications are encouraged.

Military news

Navy Seaman Recruit Tessa Gray recently completed Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command, in Great Lakes, Ill. She is a 2011 graduate of Columbia Falls High School.

Air Force Airman Marty Stevens recently graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, in San Antonio, Texas. He is a 2011 graduate of Columbia Falls High School.

Air Force Airman Patricia Wood recently graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, in San Antonio, Texas. She is a 2011 graduate of Carbon High School, in Price, Utah, and is the daughter of Dave Wood, of Coram.