HELENA – Carroll College recently awarded $158,000 in scholarships to 14 students through the Elsie P. Corette Memorial Scholarship and the Roy F. Simperman Math, Science and Nursing Scholarships. This year marks the 53rd anniversary of the Elsie P. Corette Memorial Scholarship, which was created through the generosity of Mr. John E. Corette of Butte, Montana, and his children, in memory of his wife and their mother.
Five Montana students intending to pursue medical school after graduation have been awarded the 2025–2026 Corette Scholarship. This scholarship is available to Carroll pre-med majors from Montana and has been supported since 1994 by 1962 Carroll graduate Roy F. Simperman of Mercer Island, Washington, in honor of his former father-in-law, Mr. John Corette. Mr. Simperman, the late Chairman and CEO of Semaphore Corporation, was a longstanding champion of Carroll students and a generous benefactor until his recent passing. Awards are based on financial need and promise of success in medical school. Since 1973, approximately 218 Corette Scholarships have been conferred, totaling nearly $1,509,000, with a large majority of recipients going on to become medical doctors.
This year’s Corette Scholarship recipients are:
- Katharina Fihre, senior, biology major, Helena
- Kaiden Horner, senior, biology major, Great Falls
- Gina Leveque-Zapata, senior, biology major, Helena
- Heather Magera, senior, biology major, Helena
- Sadie Filius, senior, biochemistry/molecular biology major, Havre
In addition, six nursing students and six math and science majors have been named recipients of the Roy F. Simperman Nursing Scholarship and Simperman Math and Science Scholarship, respectively.
Now in its 16th year, the Roy F. Simperman Math, Science and Nursing Scholarship program continues to support Montana students in these fields with demonstrated academic excellence (minimum 3.5 GPA) and financial need. The scholarships are designed to help offset the cost of attending Carroll College, making it comparable to that of public institutions in Montana. Over the sixteen years, $1,474,500 has been provided to 128 students.
This year’s Simperman Scholarship recipients are:
- Brynn Bohrer, senior, biology major, Billings
- Nicole Nau, sophomore, biology major, Sunburst
- Luci Horne, sophomore, math major, Townsend
- Abigail Carney, incoming first-year, math major, Helena
- Ashlynn Belleghem, incoming first-year, biology, major, Big Timber
- Alexis Cook, senior, nursing major, Great Falls
- Samantha Labrum, senior, nursing major, Kalispell
- Allison Streekstra, senior, nursing major, Florence
- Zoey Wickens, senior, nursing major, Townsend
Over the years, the Corette and Simperman scholarships have awarded over $2,983,500 to more than 346 students, with this year’s average scholarship award exceeding $11,285.
“We are honored to carry forward the incredible legacy of Roy F. Simperman,” said Dr. John Cech, President of Carroll College. “His visionary support and belief in the potential of Montana students have made an enduring difference. We are deeply grateful to his wife, Frances Simperman, and their family, including Roy Jr., who are continuing this tradition of generosity. Their commitment is not only a tribute to Roy’s life and values but a powerful investment in the future of our students.
“These scholarships do more than assist with tuition—they empower students to pursue meaningful careers in medicine, science, and nursing, where they can give back to their communities. The Corette and Simperman families’ generosity is a lasting gift that inspires excellence and opportunity.”
More Information on the Elsie Corette Memorial Scholarship
The Elsie Corette Memorial Scholarship was created at Carroll College through the generosity of Mr. John E. Corette of Butte, Montana, and by his children, in memory of his wife and their mother. Elsie Corette was born in 1907 to Peter and Mary Pauly of Deer Lodge. Peter was a cofounder of the Williams and Pauly ranch, which by the early 1950s stretched from east of Drummond to near the top of McDonald Pass.
In late September of 1930, Elsie went to Missoula to be a teaching instructor in the University of Montana History Department and continue work on her master’s degree in English. Two years later, she married a lawyer, Jack Corette. They moved to Butte, where Jack served as chairman and chief executive officer of Montana Power Company. Mr. Corette also served on the Carroll College Board of Trustees. In 1971, Elsie died, and Jack proposed the idea of a scholarship trust account at Carroll College for pre-med students who might practice in Montana.
Since Mr. Corette’s death in 1994, this scholarship fund has been generously supported by the late Roy F. Simperman of Mercer Island, Washington, a 1962 graduate of Carroll College, in memory of his late wife, Diane, daughter of Jack and Elsie Corette. Diane Simperman served on the Corette Scholarship Committee for many years, continuing her family's legacy of supporting aspiring medical students. Mr. Simperman, who passed away recently, was the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Semaphore Corporation and a steadfast benefactor of Carroll College. Today, his wife, Frances Simperman, and son, Roy Simperman Jr., are proudly continuing this legacy of generosity, ensuring that the Corette Scholarship continues to support Montana students pursuing medical careers.