Former Ronan administrator to be honored at UMW’s Night of Stars

Jamie Courville, a former dean of students and athletic director for the Ronan School District, is among the inductees to the 2026 Education Hall of Fame at the University of Montana Western.

Courville will be among those alumni feted during the 13th Annual Night of Stars Education Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Saturday, April 25, in Dillon.

The Night of Stars celebration honors Montana Western alumni who have demonstrated outstanding dedication and service to the field of education. Courville is one of five alumni who will be inducted into the Education Hall of Fame, along with Tim Love, Katherine Sunwall, Quinn Kelly and Tricia Schumann.

Ten current education students will be recognized as Outstanding Teacher Candidates. They include Mariah Humble, Theo Harris-Kaczmarek, Hailey Pike, Ryleigh Pitcher, Angela Anderson, Taylor Lovaas, Kira Crete, Karmen Ward, Thomas Zak and Isabella Lund.

“Night of Stars is always a meaningful evening for our campus,” said Jolene Robbins, special events and alumni coordinator at the University of Montana Western. “It’s an opportunity to celebrate alumni who have dedicated their lives to education, while also recognizing the next generation of teachers who are preparing to make a difference in classrooms across Montana and beyond.”

Courville, earned a Bachelor of Science in Health and Human Performance from Montana Western in 2002 and later completed a Master of Education in Educational Leadership in 2008.

Courville attended Montana Western from 1995–2002 as a student-athlete on a football scholarship and credits the mentorship of faculty, coaches and staff for helping shape both his academic success and personal growth. He fondly remembers the camaraderie and lifelong friendships formed during his time at Western, often reflecting, “Once a Dawg, always a Dawg.”

Currently, Courville serves as the middle school principal at Hellgate Elementary in Missoula, a position he has held for 13 years, and is in his 18th year as a building principal. His career has also included roles as dean of students and athletic director for the Ronan School District, as well as leadership positions at Havre Middle School and Rocky Boy Jr./Sr. High School.

A proud member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, Courville has spent much of his life on the Flathead Reservation and previously served on the Salish and Kootenai College Board of Directors.

Most recently, Courville was named the National Distinguished Principal of the Year for the State of Montana (Class of 2025).

Outside of his professional work, he enjoys life with his wife, Jennifer, and their family. They are active supporters of 4-H, raising cattle, pigs and chickens together.

This year’s event will take place in the Lewis & Clark Room in Mathews Hall on the University of Montana Western campus. The evening will begin with no-host cocktails at 5:30 p.m., followed by an Italian buffet dinner at 6:00 p.m. The induction ceremony will begin at 7:00 p.m.

Tickets for the dinner and ceremony may be purchased by contacting Kelly Allen at 406-683-7306 or online at https://tinyurl.com/UMWNOS26.