Character Counts! Scholarship
About the Scholarship
2025 Scholarship Deadline: Friday, May 3
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-three 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 2024-2025 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 2024 Winners
The Big Sky State Games selected Kennadie Peterman of Skyview High School, Ainsley McFarland of Billings West High School, Syler Pizzolato of Billings Senior High School, and Ameliya Doney of Wolf Point Hight School as the recipients of the 2024 Big Sky State Games Character Counts! Scholarship. The $500 scholarship winners were recognized at the 39th 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
Kennadie Peterman
Kennadie Peterman has competed in the State Games for the past five years in two different events (Dancing and Golf). Peterman holds a 4.28 Cumulative GPA at Skyview High School. She has received the National Honor Society Outstanding Service Award, Montana Coaches Association All State Academic, the National Honor Society Outstanding Sophomore, and the YMCA Principal Leadership Award. Peterman has work experience in childcare, mentoring dance, and being a studio assistant.
Ainsley McFarland
Ainsley McFarland has competed in the State Games for the past five years in many different Shooting events. McFarland holds a 3.87 Cumulative GPA at Billings West High School and is a member of The National Honor Society. McFarland has the work experience of interning at Electrical Consultants, Inc. Ainsley competed in The Big Sky State Games shooting events as well as volunteering for the games since 2018.
Syler Pizzolato
Syler Pizzolato has been a Big Sky State Games participant in Taekwondo from 2014-2015, Swimming from 2016-2023, and Open Water Swimming from 2019-2023. His academic and athletic accomplishments at Billings Senior High School include holding a 4.43 Cumulative GPA, being on the Principal’s Honor Roll (Freshman-Junior), earning three Academic All-State selections, and holding Billings Senior High School records in the 200 IM and 100 Fly
Ameliya Doney
Ameliya Doney has participated in Basketball in the Big Sky State Games from 2018-2023. Doney holds a 3.5 cumulative GPA at Wolf Point High School and has been on the Honor Roll for three years. Doney is also a member of the National Honor Society and was in Academic All-State for 3 years. Doney has work experience in Parks and Rec as a Maintenance Worker and as a Student Summer Custodian.
Previous Winners
| Year | Name | City |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
