Crafting a World of Opportunity

Sometimes people support scholarships not because they are alumni, but because they want to give opportunities to others they did not have.

Sheila Penaluna and her husband, Tommy, both from Butte, did not attend college. Sheila wanted to be a draftsman when she was a student at Butte High, but in the early 1950s women weren't allowed in mechanical drawing classes. They weren't allowed in the drafting department at the Anaconda Company either, where Sheila went to work after high school. But she had grit and talent, and persevered, working through several positions until she was finally hired as the first woman draftsman in the early 1970s. She worked there until mining stopped in Butte, then finished her career at ARCO in Denver as a drafting supervisor.

Tommy became a carpenter by apprenticing to his uncle when he was young. He had a long and thriving career as a carpenter and contractor in southwest Montana.

Both had successful careers in their trades without college. But when Sheila took a tour of Highlands College of Montana Tech, she was deeply impressed by what she saw.

"I could see that anybody could take a bit of computer training and specialized training, and be able to follow that straight into carpentry, plumbing, electrical, anything. What a gift they'd have without having to go through four years of college, and not go into debt."

After Tommy passed in 2018, Sheila was so moved by the opportunities at Highlands that she set up a scholarship there to honor his memory. Her first student, Serena, graduated in May in Metals Fabrication with plans to set up her own shop. "Highlands College is a fantastic place to get a leg up in the trades," Sheila says. "I'm tickled pink to help more kids go there."

Sheila plans to continue to support the Tom and Sheila Penaluna Scholarship through an estate gift, to help more students realize their potential—and you can, too. Estate gifts ensure students have opportunities to grow their careers for generations to come. Contact Luke Meyer, MSPR at 406-496-4144 or lmeyer@mtech.edu.