Character Counts! Scholarship
About the Scholarship
2026 Scholarship Deadline: Friday, May 1
The Big Sky State Games has teamed up with the CHARACTER COUNTS! Coalition and Mountain Alarm Fire and Security to recognize the importance of sportsmanship and character in Montana student athletes. CHARACTER COUNTS! is a nonprofit organization striving to improve the character of today’s youth. It is based on common ethical values that transcend political, religious, socio-economic, and cultural differences. Called the “Six Pillars of Character,” these values are: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship. Character Counts! Scholarship is sponsored by Mountain Alarm Fire and Security.
Over the past twenty-four years, the Big Sky State Games has awarded the Character Counts! Scholarship to outstanding Montana female and male student-citizen-athletes involved in the Big Sky State Games. The scholarship can be used for any secondary education after high school. This includes trade schools and community colleges.
Only high school juniors during the 2025-2026 school year are eligible for this scholarship. This is to ensure that fellow students can observe the scholarship winners during their senior year and to recognize the traits the students show. You can fill out the application below. It will also be available at all Montana High Schools Guidance Counselor offices.
About the 2025 Winners
The Big Sky State Games selected Kamdyn McFarland of Billings West High School, Isaac Mosser of Skyview High School, Addison Hansen of Bainville High School, and Joshua Campbell of North Star High School as the recipients of the 2025 Big Sky State Games Character Counts! Scholarship. The $500 scholarship winners were recognized at the 40th Annual Big Sky State Games Opening Ceremonies event.
The winners were selected based on their character, community involvement, and participation in sports. Character Counts! promotes sportsmanship and fosters good character by teaching, enforcing, advocating, and modeling, the “Six Pillars of Character”: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship
Kamdyn McFarland
Kamdyn McFarland has competed in the State Games for the past six years in shooting events. McFarland holds a 4.00 Cumulative GPA at Billings West High School. She has been an active member in the National Honors Society at Billings West High School, volunteers at her local American Legion Post 4, and joined the Molt Volunteer Fire Department. McFarland has work experience in coaching and farming.
Isaac Mosser
Isaac Mosser has competed in the State Games in two different events (Basketball and Golf). Mosser holds a 4.00 Cumulative GPA at Skyview High School and is a member of The National Honor Society, National Business Honors Society, and Business Professionals of America. He has work experience with First Tee Program and part time work at the Siding House.
Addison Hansen
Addison Hansen has been a Big Sky State Games participant in Basketball in 2018 and 2021, Track & Field in 2019, and Volleyball from 2022-2025. Her academic and athletic accomplishments at Bainville High School include holding a 3.86 Cumulative GPA, being a member of National Honor Society, Academic Olympics, Academic All State and President’s Award for Educational Excellence.
Joshua Campbell
Joshua Campbell has participated in Track & Field in the Big Sky State Games since he was eight years old. His family was awarded the BSSG Volunteer of the Year award in 2024. Campbell holds a 3.91 cumulative GPA at North Star High School and has been on the Honor Roll. He is involved in school and community activities such as being president of his class, helping with Little Knights Basketball, and running the NSPN sports broadcasting program. Campbell has work experience in a flooring and appliance company, construction, and working at the movie theater.
Previous Winners
| Year | Name | City |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Ameliya Doney | Wolf Point |
| Syler Pizzolato | Billings | |
| Ainsley McFarland | Billings | |
| Kennadie Peterman | Billings | |
| 2023 | Keatin Hertz | Billings |
| Julia Kunau | Fergus | |
| Logan Cole | Billings | |
| Delayne Lindeen | Huntley | |
| 2022 | Ella Breen | Laurel |
| Kaiya Graves | Laurel | |
| Mya Mack | Laurel | |
| Tucker Rick | Billings | |
| Teylor Ronish | Billings | |
| 2021 | Sierra Nagle | Circle |
| Dayton Magone | Billings | |
| Parker Friday | Billings | |
| Ryan Dolan | Billings | |
| Bailey Graves | Laurel | |
| 2020 | Ruff Elton | Red Lodge |
| Connor Chase | Billings | |
| Morgan Maack | Laurel | |
| Kylie Zimmer | Fergus | |
| Riley Gilsdorf | Billings | |
| 2019 | Sam George | Billings |
| Emily Poole | Huntley | |
| Audrey Sipler | Big Sandy | |
| Jessica Swandal | Billings | |
| 2018 | Devin Amtmann | Butte |
| Karter Bernhardt | Billings | |
| Loren Murphy | Huntley Project | |
| Shea Dolan | Billings | |
| Hannah Hirschi | Billings | |
| 2017 | Maysen Whitney | Billings |
| Madison Gilsdorf | Billings | |
| Makenzy Gilsdorf | Billings | |
| Skyler Robinson | Baker | |
| 2016 | Cory Kistler | Huntley Project |
| Mick Mattie | Billings | |
| Kelsey Kraft | Laurel | |
| Hailey Poole | Colstrip | |
| 2015 | Spencer Drange | Laurel |
| Jacob Michels | Shepherd | |
| Hannah Amtmann | Butte | |
| Abbigail Lohof | Laurel | |
| 2014 | Madison McLaughlin | Helena |
| Solenn Jacobsen | Baker | |
| Wylie Leo | Ennis | |
| Michael Buster | Laurel | |
| 2013 | Mikaela Robinson | Billings |
| Sara Heard | Billings | |
| James Riley | Broadus | |
| Logan Laird | Billings | |
| 2012 | Ashton McLaughlin | Helena |
| Martha Dembek | Winnett | |
| Michael Schwehr | Lavina | |
| Nick Staffileno | Billings | |
| 2011 | Alain Jacobsen | Baker |
| Zach Holmes | Billings | |
| Brianna Jo Robinson | Billings | |
| Emily Grace Walker | Huntley | |
| 2010 | Lindsey Fleming | Billings |
| Taylor Kufeld | Billings | |
| Ryan Hensleigh | Colstrip | |
| Anthony Bengochea | Nashua | |
| 2009 | Ashley Crowe | Billings |
| Kacie Chatwood | Billings | |
| Thomas Bonogofsky | Belfry | |
| Thomas Staffileno | Billings | |
| 2008 | Cord Blanchard | Great Falls |
| Emily Carroll | Billings | |
| Kylie Medicine Horse | Pryor | |
| Tim Kienitz | Billings | |
| 2007 | Auriele Fain | Billings |
| Casey Rogers | Billings | |
| Stephanie Stremcha | Havre | |
| Rick Haluszka | Harlem | |
| 2006 | Bridgett Hoenke | Billings |
| Leo Davis | Billings | |
| 2005 | Ashley Grammens | Lavina |
| Chad McMillan | Billings | |
| 2004 | Alexa McLaughlin | Helena |
| Josh Hedge | Billings | |
| 2003 | Allison Peterson | Sidney |
| Chris Blanchard | Great Falls | |
| 2002 | Sara Patterson | Great Falls |
| Patrick Riley | Bozeman | |
| 2001 | Hannah Warfield | Sidney |
| Shane Hensleigh | Colstrip | |
| 2000 | Jenny Doely | Billings |
| Jeff Graham | Chester |
