Yellowstone Times

Montana State University junior Ashlin Ivester has been awarded the Dennison Civic Engagement Scholarship for her efforts in addressing food insecurity through her initiative, Holiday Helper. This program provides home-cooked meals to families in need during the holiday season.

Ivester, originally from Atlanta and now residing in Bozeman, founded Holiday Helper in 2021 during her junior year of high school. The initiative has since expanded under her leadership, with dozens of volunteers helping to feed hundreds of families each year. Her dedication led to receiving the George M. Dennison Civic Engagement Scholarship for 2024-2025.

The scholarship, valued at $1,000 and sponsored by the Montana Campus Network for Civic Engagement, is given annually to college students who demonstrate civic leadership and foster positive community change.

“Montana State University is incredibly proud of our students who are actively engaged in civic activities and participate in volunteer work within the greater Gallatin Valley,” said Steve Swinford, vice president for student success at MSU. “We commend Ashlin for this well-deserved recognition and celebrate the example she sets for her peers.”

Ivester is currently studying psychology at MSU and plans to pursue a master's degree in forensic psychology after graduation. She expressed gratitude for the scholarship: “I’m super grateful for it. My parents work really, really hard and they contribute what they can, but college costs a lot. So having scholarships like this is definitely helpful.”

Ivester's passion for helping others inspired her to start Holiday Helper as a response to food insecurity she observed in Gallatin Valley. She noted that many volunteer opportunities were materialistic but wanted something that addressed larger issues such as food insecurity.

“But I wanted something that addressed the bigger issues we have in Bozeman,” Ivester said. “And from my other volunteer work, I knew that food insecurity was a bigger problem than I think most people realize.”

Last winter, Ivester coordinated over 30 volunteers who prepared nearly 250 meals for families on Christmas Eve. The effort included cooking various dishes with ingredients calculated by Ivester’s father, a former private chef.

In addition to Holiday Helper, Ivester volunteers with several programs run by HRDC in Bozeman and works at local initiatives such as Fork & Spoon restaurant and Heart of the Valley animal shelter.

Her commitment extends beyond local borders; she traveled to the Dominican Republic through VISIONS Service Adventures during high school to perform service work.

“Ashlin arrived at our program in the Dominican Republic with a mindset of service and altruism,” said Katherine Dayton, executive director of VISIONS Service Adventures. “She is a standout, and we've loved being one part of her launch into making a positive impact on the world.”

Kim Cleary from MSU’s Office of Student Engagement praised Ivester's outreach: “This scholarship is meant to recognize students that have gone above and beyond to serve their communities... Her ability to identify a gap in services...are evidence that she embodies the spirit of this award."