Mission Valley Scholarship helps local teens achieve college dreams

By Andrew Fish / Leader Staff

Tim Ryan Rouillier left the University of Montana in 1987 with grand plans.

Rouillier, 45, originally from St. Ignatius, was newly-wed and headed for Nashville, Tenn. with the dream of making it big in the recording industry. Once there, he had signed a record deal with Epic records and in an amazingly short three months. Yet even as he was leaving Montana with a vision of making it big in Nashville, he knew Montana was where he wanted to be and hoped he would someday be able to return. Unfortunately, the song-writing business has kept Rouillier and his wife Peggy in Nashville, so he found another way to at least return to the community. "I'm in a position to help out," said Rouillier. "I've always wanted to give back to where I'm from."

In 1988 Rouillier and his wife set out to raise money for area schools. Initially, they weren't exactly sure what they wanted to accomplish so they would raise the money and turn it over to area schools which then used the money to purchase much needed computer software. Eventually, they formed a non-profit organization, the Mission Valley Scholarship foundation. The scholarships primarily benefit students in the Ronan-St. Ignatius area bound for colleges located in Montana. The foundation's eight-member board of directors and the events are all volunteer in order to keep the overhead to a minimum. This year, the foundation gave eight scholarships worth $500 each to area students.

Over the years, the event associated with the scholarship has evolved. Initially it was held in Missoula, then a few years in Arlee. These first events were concerts that featured hit songwriters. While they drew large crowds and were successful, the costs of putting them on and advertising necessary to draw the crowds weren't justified by the returns. Rouillier was uncertain exactly how he wanted to keep the scholarship alive and what the event should be. But he was driven to keep it viable. "I was d**ned determined to get it to work," said Rouillier.

Around that time, he received a call that would develop into the event's current incarnation. Mission Mountain Country club called him and asked if he had ever considered staging the event at the golf course. He hadn't, but it turned out to be a wonderful partnership.

"Thank god the golf course called us," said Rouillier. "because golf is what kept us alive." The tournament attracts up to 60 teams with some coming from as far away as California and Washington. Each team consists of five players.

After the golf tournament there is more fun to be had. Highlighting the event are the song writers that Rouillier brings out from Nashville. Once on stage, the song writers perform the hit songs that they've written and have been recorded by big name country music stars- luminaries such as Garth Brooks and Kenny Chesney among others.

One of the people that assists Rouillier in getting hit writers to come to Ronan is Pat Rolfe. Rolfe is a vice president at the American Society of Composers Artists and Publishers. The society was formed by creators of music in 1914 in order make it easier for them to collect royalties when their songs are used in commercial settings. During her career in the music industry Rolfe has met and worked with legendary musicians such as Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley.

Rolfe has been involved throughout the charity's 20-year history and describes her role as being a "talent wrangler." Her primary reason for being involved is that she feels that it is an excellent cause. Though she also admits that she loves Montana.

"The people are absolutely fabulous and the beauty of the place is amazing," said Rolfe. "And I love to fish." Rolfe explained that the performers she sponsors are rewarded not only by helping a great cause, but by getting to spend time in western Montana. An ancillary benefit of the ASCAP presence is that it provides local residents an insight into the music industry. "It takes the mystery out of the music for the people of Montana," said Rolfe. "People really don't understand the songwriting community until they meet someone from the community."

Rouillier is delighted that he's been able to provide scholarships for nearly 20-years and hopes he can continue doing so. He said the event and the fund grow in small increments each year. His hope is to one day have enough funding to entirely cover the cost of one student attending college. "Everybody's goal is to pick a kid and say, 'your college is on us.'," said Rouillier.