Meet Our Students

Lukas Kosel

2025 Baucus Climate Scholar with Shanghai Disneyland

"Interning in citizenship and community relations at Shanghai Disney Resort has been one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of my career. This experience has taught me things I may never have learned if I hadn’t gone, especially about working and living in multilingual and multicultural environments, and I genuinely believe it has provided me crucial perspective and skills to truly grow as I continue my academic and professional career.”

Damaris Addy

2025 Baucus Leader DC with Senator Daines

As an enrolled member of the Aaniiih Nation in Montana my policy interests are in Indian Affairs which I’ve been able to explore throughout my time here by attending hearings, writing memos, and speaking with our policy advisors. My goal is to attend law school to concentrate in tribal law and policy. My experience with the Baucus Institute has better equipped me to pursue my law aspirations than any class I’ve taken in college. 

Robby Brown

2025 Baucus Climate Scholar with The Nature Conservancy, MT

"This program is awesome. The Baucus Institute allowed me to pursue two of my passions: conservation and economics. I explored the Matador Ranch, met with scientists from all over Montana, and created economic models of the Ranch to be used in further research or Grassbank model management plans. We could not have done this without the support of the Baucus Team. I highly encourage anyone interested in public service, policy making, or environmentalism to see how the Baucus Institute can shape their path!"

Elmore Limberhand

2025 Baucus Leader DC with the U.S. Senate Indian Affairs Committee

During my time with the Majority Staff of the Committee, I got to witness firsthand how much preparation and research goes into daily legislative work. It was fascinating to be able to gain so much knowledge and to learn more about the government-to-government relationships between tribal nations and the U.S. government.  This experience strengthened my commitment in showing that not only is public service possible for a Native American coming from a small community possible, but necessary.

Max Shaver

2024 Baucus Leader DC with Senator Tester

The Baucus Leader Program is the core reason for getting my job after college. Without their lessons in professional development and generous financial support, I would not have even tried to work in the Senate, much less achieve my dream post-college job. 

Aspen Ward

2021 Baucus Climate Scholar with The Nature Conservancy

My work at the Montana Nature Conservancy was focused on scoping issues with liability and smoke management that prevent prescribed fire from being implemented as a resource and ecological management tool. I developed policy options and arguments to incentive prescribed fire use in Montana, which informed legislative initiatives The Nature Conservancy pursued during the next legislative session.