Montana Tech Just Received The Largest Gift In School History

If the Digger Auction left us speechless after the announcement of the 1 Million dollar gift to Athletics, today’s announcement from Ryan and Lisa Lance raises the ante.

Montana Technological University received a 31-million-dollar gift today, from Ryan and Lisa Lance. The 1 million dollars announced at the auction was a piece of that incredible pie that was fully unveiled earlier today.

Ryan Lance is a 1984 Graduate of Montana Tech and is the current Chairman and CEO of ConocoPhillips.

“Montana Tech was the foundation that started my career, in the petroleum engineering business.”

“Lisa and I sat down a couple of years ago and decided how to share some of our good fortunes, and give back to family, friends, and institutions that we have a deep regard for, the ones that set our lives on a trajectory that was unique and different. That certainly describes Montana Technological University, Montana Tech School of Mines, whatever your history is with the school.”

"It was an opportunity to give back to the school, and that’s what this represents today, an opportunity for any high school grad, or transfer that is willing to come to Montana Tech and earn a degree. We don’t care what degree you are coming from, and we don’t care what town you come from in Montana. We wanted to give that opportunity to kids in Montana so they can build a future for themselves, their families, and their careers, and take advantage of the wonderful programs that Montana Tech has to offer”

There are many facets to this gift, all of them transformational. The Lance Scholarship is a piece that is almost hard to comprehend in its grandeur.

“Every year fifty to fifty-seven students will be awarded a four-thousand-dollar scholarship. Meaning that in the future we will have two hundred and fifty students on campus receiving the four-thousand-dollar scholarships every year, in perpetuity.” Jaime Heppler CEO, Montana Technological University Foundation. “Our entire foundation team has worked really hard with Ryan and Lisa to make this happen, and we never rushed. We wanted to make sure everything was exactly how Ryan and Lisa envisioned, and we were able to make that happen”.

Lisa and Ryan both expressed their regret that they were unable to make the announcement in person, but they had to stay close to home awaiting the arrival of their first grandchild.

Thank you Lisa and thank you Ryan.

#RollDiggs

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