July 2026
This September, nine Montana colleges and universities within the Montana Campus Network for Civic Engagement will honor the 25th anniversary of the September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance by transforming reflection into meaningful action. Through projects that recognize veterans, first responders, families, and community organizations, students, faculty, staff, and local partners will demonstrate how service continues to unite communities across the state.
At Great Falls College MSU, the campus will launch “Otterly Grateful: A Veteran Appreciation Project,” assembling 50–75 appreciation care packages for student veterans and military-connected students. Volunteers from across campus will package GFC-branded items, handwritten messages of gratitude, and other gifts before distributing them later in September. Educational reflections throughout the event will connect participants to the legacy of September 11 while emphasizing the enduring importance of supporting those who have served.
In eastern Montana, Miles Community College will bring together students and local Special Olympics participants for “Heroes Helping Heroes.” Working side by side, volunteers will assemble more than 100 care packages for police officers, firefighters, dispatchers, sheriff’s deputies, and other first responders serving the Miles City community. The collaborative project highlights inclusion, civic engagement, and appreciation while strengthening relationships among the college, Special Olympics athletes, and emergency service agencies.
At Montana State University Billings, the “Serving Those Who Serve Us” initiative will celebrate healthcare workers and first responders through hands-on appreciation activities. Volunteers will create thank-you gifts, artwork, flowers, and messages of encouragement for local hospitals, while educational programming will invite participants to reflect on the resilience, unity, and service that emerged from the events of September 11 and continue to inspire communities today.
Montana Technological University will host a Day of Remembrance Collaborative Lunch, inviting first responders from Butte-Silver Bow to share a meal with students, faculty, and staff. Participants will also contribute to a campus food drive supporting the local pantry, with organizers setting a goal of collecting at least 250 food items in recognition of America’s 250th anniversary. The event emphasizes fellowship, gratitude, and the opportunity to serve those who dedicate their lives to serving others.
The University of Montana will once again expand its successful “Fall into Service” initiative into a week of volunteer opportunities across Missoula and western Montana. Students will support food security efforts, clean the Clark Fork River, build homes with Habitat for Humanity, prepare meals for families experiencing housing insecurity, visit elementary classrooms as reading buddies, assist Glacier National Park stewardship projects, and serve veterans at the Poverello Center. Each volunteer event will include opportunities for reflection on how acts of service honor the legacy of September 11 while building stronger, more connected communities.
At Blackfeet Community College, “A Blackfeet Day of Remembrance” will open with a traditional prayer, drumming and singing, and remarks from elders, veterans, and first responders. About 20 volunteers will then prepare care packages and collect essential items for community members in need, tying the day to Blackfeet values of respect, reciprocity, and service.
In southwest Montana, the University of Montana Western will hold “Carry It Forward: UMW Dillon 9/11 Day of Service,” engaging 110 to 125 volunteers across 11 service tracks, from food pantry support to first responder appreciation. UMW will partner with the Montana Youth Challenge Academy, whose cadets will lead the opening flag ceremony and serve alongside students. The day will close with a pie social and pledges of additional service hours.
At Carroll College in Helena, the “Service in Action Fair” will connect an expected 300 to 500 students, faculty, and community members with 10 to 12 local nonprofits through hands-on service rather than recruitment booths. Students will assemble hygiene kits, food packs, baby care kits, and foster-care welcome bags, turning a typical volunteer fair into immediate community impact.
In northwest Montana, Flathead Valley Community College will host its “9/11 Week of Service,” building on a project that drew more than 120 volunteers last year. Activities include a community dinner with the Flathead Community Kitchen, a visit to the Montana Veterans Home, a “Pizza and Preparedness” emergency-kit event, and the FVCC Gives Back campaign, which donates food pantry items for every volunteer pledge.
Together, these 9 projects demonstrate the power of civic engagement across Montana’s colleges and universities. From supporting veterans and first responders to addressing food insecurity, environmental stewardship, affordable housing, and community wellness, students are carrying forward the spirit of 9/11 Day by turning remembrance into service. Their efforts reflect a shared commitment to honoring those who answered the call 25 years ago while inspiring a new generation to answer the call to serve their own communities today.
