Alpha Zeta recently honored two Montana members with the Keith Scholarship. The two $6,000 scholarships are awarded annually, one to an undergraduate and one to a Pre-Vet
or Vet student. This year's scholarship recipients were Tim Gibbs and Nikki Bailey.
Congratulations!
Tim Gibbs (Montana, ‘08)
Tim was born in
Miles City, Montana and raised on his family ranch with his parenst and three
brothers. Growing up, Tim stayed busy with school, 4-H, sports, and helping out
at home. He graduated valedictorian from Garfield County
District High
School in 2005 where he was involved in many
extracurricular activities.
Tim spent the next
two years attending Rocky Mountain College
in Billings, Montana during the school year and fighting fire
during the summer. When he decided to pursue a career in veterinary medicine he
transferred to Montana State University
in Bozeman,
graduating with a degree in Biotechnology - Animal Systems in May 2009.
Tim now attends the
Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine and is in his first
year of the program. Tim’s veterinary interests include beef cattle and
reproduction.
Upon graduation,
Tim hopes to return to Montana
and give back to the agricultural community. He would like to help fill the
need for veterinarians in rural America
and run a veterinary practice that focuses on large animals.
Nikki Bailey (Montana, ‘09) 
Nikki is a senior
at Montana State University,
double majoring in Agriculture Education – Relations Option and Animal Science
– Equine Option.
Nikki grew up on a
piece of land that her family has farmed and ranched for four generations in
the heart of the Golden Triangle near Fort
Benton, Montana.Growing
up working in the fields and feeding cows she gained many valuable experiences
and a passion for the agricultural way of life.
After graduation,
Nikki aspires to become an Extension Agent in Montana.Nikki has chosen to double
major in hopes that this will allow her to communicate with and assist not only
traditional producers that are the backbone of agriculture but also the newer,
small-acre horse owners that are becoming more and more present in Montana.
Nikki is involved
in many clubs and organizations at MSU including, Alpha Zeta, Ag Ambassadors,
Collegiate Young Farmers and Ranchers, and Ag Student Council.Through her
passion for agriculture and knowledge and experiences that she has gained at
MSU, Nikki hopes to educate people both in and outside agriculture.