UGF business major, Kimberly Boy wants to take skills back to reservation

In three months, University of Great Falls senior Kimberly Boy will be one step closer to reaching her career goal.

By BETH BRITTON
Tribune Business Editor

The 27-year-old business major will graduate in May and intends to move on to earn her master’s in business, perhaps at the University of Montana.

For five years, the Browning native has known what she wants to do — head out into the world to get business experience and then return to her hometown, where she can help create job opportunities.

"I want to help my native people better themselves, and I want them to take pride in their jobs," Boy said. "My going back to the reservation someday is for the people and to create good jobs on the reservation. I chose business as a way to give an opportunity to the future of the reservation."

According to Blackfeet Community College Program Director Debra Davis — who Boy said was instrumental in helping her shape her business education — Boy is one of many Blackfeet students choosing business as a major and a career option.

Today, business is one of the higher enrollment programs at the community college, Davis said. Like Boy, a growing number of students are interested in transferring to four-year colleges, earning a bachelor’s degree in business and creating job opportunities, Davis added.

Boy always excelled in her classes, Davis said. She earned two associate’s degrees in business and small-business management at the college and then transferred her credits to UGF.

"I think of her perseverance and fortitude — she’s just one of those people that just has leadership skills," Davis said. "I think she has a lot of courage to move down to Great Falls and take that program. I’m proud of her."

Business was not always at the top of Boy’s list, but education was.

"I come from a family of education, and it was instilled in me that I would go to college. That’s what I grew up with," Boy said. "But choosing business was my decision."

While at UGF, Boy has participated in the Students In Free Enterprise program. The 18 SIFE members work with regional businesses to help develop business plans and put in action the concepts taught in their business classes, Boy said.

SIFE is a nonprofit organization that works in partnership with business and higher education to provide college students the opportunity to make a difference and to develop leadership, teamwork and communications skills through learning, practicing and teaching the principles of free enterprise.

Now, Boy aims to take what she’s learned and apply it in graduate school and then on the job, perhaps out of state. When she returns to the reservation, she said, it will be for good.

"People there are willing to work, but right now there are just no jobs," Boy said. "The fact that we need more jobs is obvious. I hope to make a difference."

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