RISE Challenge Big Sky Summit
April 30, 2024
Cymatic Event Center | Missoula, MT
Join us as finalist student groups compete for prize money at this exciting event! All participating students, adults, and anyone wanting to support the students are welcome.
What is the RISE Challenge Big Sky?
RISE Challenge Big Sky Team
The mission of RISE Challenge Big Sky is to create a generation of citizens with the knowledge, skills, and motivation to improve community resilience to natural disasters. Part inquiry-based learning, part competition, and part summit, it engages students in exploring their local communities to identify real-world environmental issues and develop solutions and action plans for making their communities more resilient.
What is the Summit?
Groups of Montana middle and high school students and their teachers participated in the RISE Challenge Big Sky by selecting environmental issues impacting their communities, conducting in-depth research, interviewing experts, and developing action plans for addressing the issues. The top student groups are invited to showcase their projects at the culminating Summit on April 30th for a chance to win unrestricted cash prizes between $150 and $1,000 from the ASFPM Foundation. All projects are eligible to apply for funds from FEMA to implement their projects.
How will the Summit winners be chosen?
A panel of expert judges will view each group’s verbal presentation, ask student representatives questions, and use a scoring rubric to determine the prize winners. See bios below.
Thank you to our team of expert judges!
David Atkins, Forester and Forest Ecologist
Dave has a B.S. in Forest Science focused on Silviculture and Forest Soils and an M.S. in Forest Ecology focused on old growth. He had a 37+ year career with the US Forest Service, retiring as the National Program Manager for Wood Innovation and Woody Biomass Utilization. His family manages forest land in the lower Blackfoot watershed where he makes biochar. Dave is President of the Montana Forest Owners Association, is helping to form the MT Prescribed Burn Council, and is a member of the Blackfoot Challenge, Lolo Restoration Committee, and Citizens Climate Lobby. In his free time, Dave enjoys spending time with his grandsons.
Heidi Houck, P.E.
Rockies Regional Director, Herrera Environmental Consultants
Heidi is a principal engineer with 20 years of experience in multidisciplinary civil and environmental engineering projects. She is experienced in stormwater and wastewater conveyance design, site remediation, reclamation, river restoration, and environmental monitoring. She provides design PS&E and construction management and oversight for stormwater, wastewater, hazardous waste, and rivers projects. Heidi oversees projects ranging from planning-level evaluations to final design and construction management. She also supports Herrera’s mine reclamation group with stormwater management and design at abandoned mine sites throughout the Rocky Mountain region. Outside of work, Heidi enjoys spending time with her family, hiking, skiing, playing ultimate frisbee and hockey, and seeing live music. Heidi has a B.S. in Civil Engineering with an Environmental Engineering Specialty from Seattle University.
Marie Noland
Storm Water Maintenance & Program Specialist, City of Missoula
Marie is the Program Specialist for the City of Missoula, Department of Public Works & Mobility – Storm Water Utility and manages the storm water maintenance program. This program includes managing repair work on storm infrastructure with over 7,000 dry wells and over 70 miles of storm pipe, as well as assisting with maintenance on Missoula’s two federal levees and reporting to the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). She also organizes city programs with local non-profits for public outreach and education regarding the nature of storm water, its importance to our watershed, and how to keep our rivers, streams, and aquifer clean.
Traci Sears, CFM
NFIP/CAP Coordinator, DNRC
Traci has served as the National Floodplain Insurance Program (NFIP) Coordinator for the State of Montana since 2007. She has over 22 years of experience in floodplain management, recovery, and mitigation. Traci is actively involved in local, state, and national floodplain programs and policy issues. Currently, Ms. Sears is co-chair of the ASFPM’s Regulations Committee and has been the Region 8 Director since 2017. She is also on the Board of Directors for the National Hazard Mitigation Association. She holds a BA in Criminal Justice with a Minor in Urban and Regional Planning from Florida Atlantic University. As a previous county floodplain administrator and CFM, she is aware of the impacts that unmet needs, increased risks, and recent program changes have on local floodplain programs.
Peri Turk, PE, CFM
Helena Regional Engineer, Water Resources Division
Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation
Peri’s work includes providing technical assistance in the areas of dam safety, floodplain mapping, and floodplain permitting for the DNRC. Before moving to Montana, she graduated from Ohio State (yes, Ohio is real) with a degree in ecological engineering. Currently, Peri is pursuing a master’s degree in environmental engineering at Montana Tech. In her free time, she enjoys rock & ice climbing, live music, floating, and spending time at local Helena establishments.
Radley Watkins, Executive Director, Missoula Conservation District
Radley has a broad background in conservation and natural resource management. He has worked for a Wisconsin Conservation District where he headed the aquatic species management program and did some shoreline restoration. Radley attended the University of Montana and received an undergraduate degree in bio-geography. He received his master’s degree from Michigan Tech’s forestry department where he focused on landscape ecology. This background has allowed him to work as a wildlife ecologist in Washington, a lake management consultant in Wisconsin, a county land-use planner in northern Idaho, and in the field of real estate. Radley has spent the last decade living in the Northwoods of Wisconsin, the third most lake-rich region of the world where Radley’s family has owned property for over 70 years. Managing family land gave Radley hands-on experience balancing natural resource regulation with maintaining a historic way of life. Radley has a passion for protecting habitat and biodiversity, as well as getting out and enjoying natural places. When he is not working, Radley likes to spend time with his family hiking, backpacking, boating, and training his horses.
Teachers: Join us for the 2025 RISE Challenge Big Sky!
Professional Experts – Volunteer!
Volunteers are the driving force behind the RISE Challenge Big Sky! If you are involved with floodplain management, environmental issues, natural hazard mitigation, state or federal policies, or a similar area of expertise, please consider volunteering. Montana students – and the environment – will thank you!
