Katy Sparks

Katy Sparks is compressing a lot of education into her years at Montana State University.

An agricultural business major from Plevna in southeastern Montana, Sparks is taking 22 credits this semester in order to complete enough English courses to have it as an official minor before graduating next spring. She is in the University Honors Program and enjoyed the "Origins" course taught by a paleontologist, a philosopher and a physicist. She spent spring semester at Flinders University in Adelaide, South Australia just to broaden her horizons. She is learning Spanish, which she hopes to need for travel at some time in the future, and fitting in organization of Ag Days, which attracts 700 high school students to MSU in November.

English, she says, is a "good complement to econ. In econ we learn a lot of quantitative things and in English we learn how to express them."

Taking 22 credits is "not that hard," she adds. "This semester has been a lot busier than most, but it's interesting to have very different types of classes. You just have to make sure you do your homework, stay on top of things, prioritize, organize, that kind of thing."

Her interest in ag business was fueled by growing up on a ranch that raises horned Herefords and hay, and she adds a love of sports to her love of animals.

"I enjoy reading and exercise. I play (intramural) basketball quite a bit. I enjoy watching sports, too. At home I enjoy animals, working around them, and my pets." At home, she has dogs, cats, a horse and a cow.

Another bit of home-life she's brought to MSU is tradition. Her mom, Carol Pehl Sparks graduated from MSU in 1976, and her grandma, Anne Lane Pehl of Terry graduated in 1950. Her mom lived in Hannon Hall, where Katy lived for several of her MSU years. Grandma lived in the Quads, where Katy took many of her honors classes.

Fitting everything into college life required the skills she says she learned in 4-H and FFA, especially organizational skills and being able to speak in front of groups.

"I also want to thank the department of econ and ag econ," says Sparks. "The profs there are great. They are always willing to chat with you and help you out. They talk with you when they see you and they are very supportive."

Sparks says she doesn't have a clear idea of what she wants to do after college. Both graduate school and taking a job are possibilities.

Sparks was chosen as the Rotary Student of the Month for September. She is the daughter of Tom and Carol Sparks of Plevna.