Norman Jacobson graduated from Flathead County High School in Kalispell, Mont., in 1949. He received a scholarship to attend Montana Western, and completed his Elementary Education degree in 1952. While at Montana Western, he was a four-year letterman for the Bulldog Football team from 1949-52. In 1992, he was inducted into the Bulldog Athletic Hall of Fame.
Jacobson went on to receive two Master’s degrees; the first from the University of Montana in Education in 1958, and the second from Washington State University in 1965 in Physical Science Education with a grant from the National Science Foundation.
When Norman Jacobson and his wife, Maurine, were raising their children, he was very active in 4-H, Future Farmers of America and the Boy Scouts, taking active leadership roles in each organization.
“I am convinced that our future depends on how we educate our youth. My only claim to fame is that I have been involved with students and teachers every year since 1952. I am still being asked to come into classrooms today,” said Jacobson.
During the course of his 32 year career, he taught in Three Forks, Havre, Deer Lodge, and Missoula, Mont. During his retirement, Jacobson has been a dedicated member of the Missoula Retired Senior Volunteer Program, contributing 15 years of service as a docent with the Traveler’s Rest Preservation and Heritage Association presenting the contributions of Lewis and Clark and David Thompson to the early history of Western Montana. He also received the Governor’s Citation for his work with the Montana Energy Education Council and his contributions to Montana students and schools last year.
Jacobson established the Norman and Maurine Jacobson Education Scholarship at Montana Western in 2016 to impact student lives as his was by a scholarship at Montana Western that allowed him to receive his first degree.
“We are tremendously proud to present Norman with the Alumni Distinguished Service Award. He has spent a lifetime devoted to education and giving back to others,” said UMW Foundation Director, Roxanne Engellant.
The ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. in the Straugh Gymnasium on the Montana Western campus.
For more information about Commencement, please contact the Montana Western Registrar’s Office by calling 406-683-7371.
