Graduation Matters Columbia Falls was among six school communities or foundations honored by the Office of Public Instruction during the Impact Awards ceremony in Bozeman.

The awards recognized groups that raised the bar for students by working with community partners in increasing graduation rates and preparing students for college and career.

Graduation Columbia Falls was given the Engaging Student Voices Award for its participation of more than 40 high school students in coming up with ideas to create a supportive school community.

Some of the students’ efforts have included outreach to freshmen, serving as peer advisers and tutors and organizing a signature event called Speak Out.

At Speak Out, students read essays written in English classes by juniors and seniors who remain anonymous to an audience of freshman and sophomores at the beginning of the year to encourage them to graduate.

The essays often describe how students continued to attend school or set graduation as a goal despite personal obstacles or hardships at home.

“It helps them see a ways to the future — help give them some resonance,” Speak Out organizer and Graduation Matters Columbia Falls Coordinator Betsy Funk said. “The essays are strong statements of the spirit of where we are because of who we are.”

Anonymity is key to the Speak Out event to let the essay take on a universal voice rather than that the author.

“It’s so important the author is not identified because then the story becomes about them. Through anonymity, I can hear your voice in my voice and your story in my story. It resonates with students,” Funk said.

Speak Out originated two years ago during a brainstorming session between Funk and Columbia Falls High School graduate Katie Presnell as a way for classmates and staffers to hear what school is like from students themselves.

“This powerful young woman was a student mom entering her junior year. She’s now in college at FVCC. She and I went to an OPI Student Advisory conference to hear from student voices across the state about Graduation Matters initiatives. On our way back, Katie said the one thing that resonated with her is that students felt like they had no place and no voice.”

Funk said Speak Out opens up a dialogue between students and staff in understanding students’ circumstances

The Engaging Student Voices Award is a big compliment to students involved in Graduation Matters. Student involvement equals success when asking students to cultivate character, compassion, focus and perseverance, according to Funk.

“I’ve taught many, many years and when students are part of the decision-making process, it creates an empowered role, a leadership role,” Funk said. “We’re not just talking about graduation.”

With 58 Graduation Matters communities around the state, Columbia Falls High School Principal Scott Gaiser said it was an honor to get the award. Gaiser said the school is always looking for ways to engage students.

“There’s no other way to do that than by listening to what students think,” Gaiser said. “Speak Out is a great way of giving students a voice.”

Other award winners were Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation and Graduation Matters programs in St. Ignatius, Great Falls, Hamilton and Billings.

Since Graduation Matters Montana was launched in 2009-10, the state graduation rate has increased from 80.2 percent to 86 percent in 2014-15.

Hilary Matheson is a reporter for The Daily Inter Lake. She may be reached at 758-4431 or [email protected].