January 15-16, 2004

ITEM 122-2002-R0104   Authorization to Confer the Title of Professor Emeritus of Extension upon Claire Del Guerra; Montana State University-Bozeman

THAT: Upon the occasion of the retirement of Claire Del Guerra from Montana State University, the Board of Regents wishes to express its appreciation for her service to the University, the Montana University System and the people of the State of Montana.

 

EXPLANATION: Claire Del Guerra received a B.S. in Home Economics from Montana State College and an M.S. in Family and Consumer Sciences from Montana State University - Honors Graduate. She also obtained a teaching degree, three year diploma in Elementary Education and a Secondary School Teaching Certificate from the College of Great Falls. She began her career with Montana State College Extension in January 1951 as one of the first touring Montana International Youth Exchange delegates. She then was an agent in Hill County for five years. She taught school in Great Falls and became the Cascade County agent in 1965, where she is still active following her retirement. Her accumulated time as a MSU Extension Agent is 39 years.

Claire has been selected for the Mother of the Year Award, the Sorpotimist Woman of Distinction-Northwest Region Award, the Silver Apple Award from the Great Falls Teachers Association, the Jefferson Award for Montana community service, Great Falls Woman of Achievement, Outstanding Montana Home Economist Award, Virginia Blend Award from the Montana Mental Health Association, the YWCA Woman of the Year Award, and the Montana Wheathearts and Montana WIFE awards for outstanding service.

Claire was instrumental in originating the Cascade County Historical Society, was a charter member of the Great Falls Community Food Bank, and has served as a resource person for YWCA, Campfire Girls, Girl Scouts, RSVP, Mercy Home, United Way, Crisis Center, Great Falls Day Care Association, Cascade County Mental Health Association, Head Start, WIC, Job Service and many others.

For these and many other reasons, the Board of Regents of Higher Education is pleased to confer upon Claire Del Guerra the status of Professor Emeritus of Extension at Montana State University-Bozeman and thanks her for her outstanding service to Montana.