With Above and Beyond we are proud to partner with the Billings Gazette to tell uplifting stories, shining a light on the good and positive that abounds amongst the youth in our community.

It can sometimes feel like we are bombarded with stories of tragedy, anger, and destruction. This series isn’t that..

Above and Beyond features stories of high schoolers that might otherwise go untold. They’re not the star athletes or the valedictorian (those students get their share of praise, and deservedly so). They are high schoolers from our community that have overcome adversity or given back selflessly but fly below the radar to most of us, no longer.

The Gazette will profile a new student every other Wednesday throughout the school year and we hope you will join us in celebrating the GOOD each of these students embodies.

Garric Zugaza Above and Beyond

 

Garric Zugaza

Absarokee student unearths his potential after rough start to high school

Absarokee High School senior Garric Zugaza is honest with himself when he looks in the mirror. “I messed up a lot when…  “Read More

 

Above & Beyond feature Billings MT

Camdin Davis

Roundup student has ‘quietly persevered’ through life’s challenges

Camdin Davis wants to work in law enforcement after he graduates from Roundup High School this spring. He’s had some…  Read More

 

Above & Beyond

Precious Bear Crane

Grandma’s advice to keep working through hardship helps keep Billings student on track

Precious Bear Crane remembers her grandmother’s advice. “She told me…  Read More

Above and Beyond feature Max Davis Billings MT

Max Davis

After adoption from Ethiopia; Billings student flourishes at Skyview

Max Davis doesn’t talk much about his roots. Not unlike most of his teenage peers, things like sports and…  Read More

Emily Hergenrider Above & Beyond

Emily Hergenrider

Laurel student living with heart defects becomes strong leader, mentor

It’s still dark when Emily Hergenrider begins driving toward Bridger each morning. It will be…  Read More

Cyrus Caufield Above & Beyond

Cyrus Caufield

Plenty Coups football player, cross country runner plans future as artist

Cyrus Caufield likes to draw or paint things that inspire him. The Plenty Coups High School junior can trace out his future, with plans…  Read More

Dallas Roe Above and Beyond feature

Dallas Roe

Billings high-schooler finding her way through showing animals in 4-H, gymnastics, and volunteering

Dallas Roe still remembers the first time she showed a cow in 4-H. The heifer was particularly ornery…  Read More

above and beyond raeleigh strommen

RaiLeigh Strommen

After losing mom at young age, Columbus student finds strength in coping with loss.

RaiLeigh Strommen had to grow up early. Her mother died when Strommen was…  Read More

above and beyond ashton berg

Ashton Berg

Billings high school student coping with mother’s death while still pushing herself to excel in class.

There’s no slacking off for Ashton Berg during her senior year. The West High student has a full course load – of college-level classes. She’s taking …Read More


above and beyond feature

Casey Burrows

Laurel student who lost her arm to cancer doesn’t let disease keep her from her passions

Casey Burrows is hard to pigeonhole. Her passions are many, each seem strong enough to anchor the Laurel High School senior’s identity…  Read More

Above and Beyond Katie Bosch

Katie Bosch

Positive attitude, work ethic buoy Billings high school senior to success

The advice that Katie Bosch has for other students seems to fit with the bubbly personality one would expect from a homecoming queen: have fun…  Read More

Above & Beyond - Ruth Johnson feature

Ruth Johnson

Billings high school student channels dyslexia into drive to succeed – and to do it her way

Ruth Johnson used to scoff at the notion that her dyslexia ever could be a good thing. When she was diagnosed in first grade…  Read More

 

Kolton Gladney - Above & Beyond

Kolton Gladney

‘Little man’ comes of age

As a child, relatives called Kolton Gladney “little man.” The nickname – or at least the first part – no longer fits the Columbus High School senior. He’s already taken on a grown man’s role …  Read More

 

above and beyond featured student

Jerrica Bursik

FFA, music help Park City student grow into leader, start composting program

Jerrica Bursik never pictured herself as a leader – “like, ever.” Leadership, it seemed, was for the had shakers, the natural speech makers, those who…  Read More

Terin Hennessy

Billings high school senior uses ‘sheer determination’ to work through health problems

Terin Hennessy knows how to adapt. The West High senior has suffered from a condition that causes frequent seizures since she was a young child…  Read More


above and beyond featured student

 

Trajan Hill

Hardin student bound for Rocky, fueled by unsteady childhood

Trajan Hill has a lot to be proud of. The Hardin High School senior is an all-state athlete and an honor-roll student…Read More

Above and Beyond

Madison Martinez

Billings high school student maintains optimism, excellence amid health struggles

Madison Martinez has had to learn a lot about medicine. But that’s not why she wants to become a doctor…Read More


Above and Beyond student - Chamique Not Afraid

Chamique Not Afraid

Pryor student finds strength after grandmother’s death, early school struggles

“I’d pray that I’d have a good day, and meet good people that would treat me well. I’d pray that I’d walk on good ground”…  Read More

 

Above and Beyond series

Ben Morone

Central High senior finds meaning while pursuing financial interests

Ben Morone’s childhood lemonade stand wasn’t built on a great business model. After all, there are only so many customers between Billings and…Read More


Above & Beyond featured student

Alexa Reimer

Red Lodge student aims to be Social Media role model while coping with chronic illness

Alexa Reimer knows what it’s like to live with pain. She knows what it’s like not to be able to eat or drink, …Read More

 

above and beyond

Skylar Zimmerman

Billings high-schooler who can ‘outwork everybody’ learns to live with diabetes

Skylar Zimmerman had to learn how to tweak her recipe for success. Some of the ingredients are packed away in…  Read More

Above & Beyond - Hunter Cotton

Hunter Cotton

Cancer, depression, and more: Billings high school student has learned to overcome it all

Hunter Cotton’s grandma gave him some repeated advice: “No matter what’s happening, you’ve got to …Read More