HELENA - Carroll College is pleased to present the prestigious Raymond G. Hunthausen Outstanding Service Award to three deserving students who have made outstanding contributions to Carroll and their communities. The selection committee chooses students who work to improve the lives of others through their own unselfish commitment of time, energy, and compassion. This year’s recipients are recent graduates Ella Hubach and Michael Klooster and rising senior Sydney Forrey.
Environmental Science major Ella Hubach of Seward, Nebraska, graduated magna cum laude and has distinguished herself through a deep commitment to environmental stewardship, inclusion, and community service. Through academic and service work with organizations including the Montana Watershed Coordination Council, Montana WILD, and American Prairie Reserve, she has advanced sustainability initiatives and expanded opportunities for youth engagement in the outdoors. A dedicated leader in Carroll College’s Special Olympics Club, Ella has served as both public relations coordinator and president, leading fundraising efforts, organizing volunteers for statewide tournaments, and advocating for disability inclusion through rallies and community outreach efforts such as a food drive for the Friendship Center. Her compassionate, intentional leadership has strengthened Carroll’s culture of service and inspired others to engage meaningfully with their communities.
Health Sciences & Public Health major Michael Klooster of Belmont, Michigan, graduated cum laude and has contributed greatly to the Carroll community through his steady leadership and care for others. A student-athlete on the soccer team preparing for a career in pediatric physical therapy, Michael balanced academics and athletics while serving as both a resident assistant in Guadalupe Hall and a peer minister. Known for always making time for fellow students, he built strong connections with residents and peers alike. His commitment to service is reflected through volunteer work with Carroll’s Special Olympics Club and Helena’s Florence Crittenton Home and Family Services. Throughout his time at Carroll, Michael consistently brought generosity, encouragement, and compassion to the many communities he served.
Sydney Forrey of Townsend, Montana, a rising senior majoring in Catholic Studies with a minor in Sociology, has become a familiar and trusted presence within Helena’s homeless community through her consistent service and outreach efforts. As the Community Outreach Weekly Service Coordinator with the Hunthausen Center for Peace and Justice, Sydney organizes Carroll students to serve meals at God’s Love and leads regular street walks that foster connection, community, and fellowship with those experiencing homelessness. Nominated for this award each year she has been at Carroll, Sydney is recognized not only for the time and care she gives to others, but also for the way she encourages fellow students to engage in service with compassion, dignity, and genuine relationship-building.
This prestigious award for community service, presented to deserving students who make outstanding contributions to the college or a community, has been a Carroll tradition since 1986. The award was named for Archbishop Raymond G. Hunthausen because of his exemplary commitment to peace and justice in his personal and professional life and his strong pastoral care for all people.
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