06/04/2026
As Montana seniors celebrate graduation and look ahead to the future, we're highlighting a project that helps preserve the stories of graduates who came before them.
One of our 2023 grantees, Schoolhouse History & Art Center (SHAC) in Colstrip cares for more than 50 years of Coal Dust yearbooks, along with a remarkable photo collection by Wes Chapman documenting life in Colstrip during the 1970s. The grant helped to make every page of these yearbooks was digitized and made accessible through the Montana History Portal, helping alumni, families, researchers, and community members connect with their shared history.
As students across the state turn the page to a new chapter, we're reminded of the words of Superintendent Lloyd L. DeWitt from the 1956 Coal Dust yearbook:
"Set your goals high and ever strive to attain them."
Congratulations to the Class of 2026 and to all those whose stories continue to shape Montana's history. 🎓✨
