Our Story
DayOne 2026 Celebrating 125 Years. Investing in the Next 125

For 125 years, Montana Technological University has transformed determination into discovery, education into opportunity, and innovation into impact. As we conclude our 125th anniversary celebration, DayOne 2026 invites alumni, students, parents, faculty, staff, and friends to come together to honor this remarkable milestone—and help write the next chapter in Montana Tech's story.

From noon on Wednesday, September 9 through noon on Friday, September 11, the Oredigger community will unite for 48 hours of generosity, pride, and purpose. Together, we'll celebrate the legacy built by generations of students, faculty, alumni, and supporters while investing in the people, programs, and possibilities that will define the next 125 years.

Montana Tech's story has always been one of resilience, ingenuity, and a willingness to solve the world's toughest challenges. From our beginnings as the Montana State School of Mines in 1900 to today's nationally recognized university preparing tomorrow's engineers, scientists, healthcare professionals, business leaders, and innovators, every generation has helped build a stronger future.

Now it's our turn.

Your DayOne gift helps create scholarships that open doors, strengthens academic programs, advances groundbreaking research, enhances student experiences, and equips the next generation of Orediggers with the knowledge and skills to lead in an ever-changing world. Every gift, regardless of size, creates opportunities for students and helps ensure Montana Tech continues to innovate, inspire, and make an impact for generations to come.

During this 48-hour celebration, you'll have the opportunity to:

  • Multiply your impact through generous matching gifts and challenge opportunities supporting projects across campus.
  • Invest in the future by supporting scholarships, academic programs, research, athletics, student organizations, and initiatives that prepare students to lead tomorrow's industries.
  • Join thousands of Orediggers in demonstrating the pride, generosity, and community spirit that make Montana Tech unlike anywhere else.

In addition to project-specific matches, DayOne 2026 will once again feature special matching opportunities for First-Time Donors, Student Donors, Faculty and Staff Donors, as well as the popular Department Leaderboard Challenge. Additional matching and challenge opportunities will be announced as the event approaches.

As an added bonus, 125 DayOne 2026 donors will be randomly selected at the conclusion of the event to receive a one-of-a-kind Dig City Supply T-shirt. Make sure to select your shirt size on the donation form so that you are eligible. Plus, every DayOne 2026 donor will receive a sticker celebrating Montana Tech with their gift receipt letter.


Whether this is your first DayOne gift or you've participated every year, your support is part of something much larger. Together, we're honoring a rich history while building an even brighter future—one opportunity, one student, and one gift at a time.

Join us September 9th–11th as we celebrate where we've been, invest in where we're going, and shape the next 125 years of Montana Tech.

For questions about Montana Technological University's DayOne giving event, please contact spanisko@mtech.edu.





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Match
First Time Donor Match
First-time donor gifts will be matched 1:1 for each dollar given from a match pool of $5,000. That means your gift of $50 actually has the impact of $100. To take advantage of this matching opportunity if it is your first time giving to Montana Tech make sure to answer yes to being a first-time donor on the giving form. Answers will be monitored for validity. Matching opportunity will be available from noon September 9th, 2026 through noon September 11th, 2026 or sooner if the $5,000 match has been met.
$5,000
Faculty Staff Participation Match Challenge
$5,000 will be unlocked at the time 50 Montana Tech faculty/staff members have participated in DayOne 2026. Upon completion of the entire DayOne Giving event $100 will be applied to the project or projects to which the original gift was made for each of those donors.
50 Donor Goal
Starts in
Leaderboard
Montana Tech Industrial Advisory Board Challenge
The academic program that receives gifts from the greatest number of donors will earn an additional $2,000, thanks to a generous matching gift from Nick '92 and Kari '94 Olds. IAB members: When making your own gift, please make sure to mark IAB member as a Montana Tech affiliation.
Montana Tech Industrial Advisory Board Challenge (17)
2
Match
Student Donor Match
Montana Tech student donor gifts will be matched 1:1 for each dollar given from a match pool of $5,000 thanks to a generous gift from Jack and Leah McCarthy. That means your gift of $50 actually has the impact of $100. To take advantage of this matching opportunity make sure to select STUDENT from the How are you affiliated with Montana Tech question on the giving form. Answers will be monitored for validity. Matching opportunity is available from noon September 9th, 2026 to noon September 11th, 2026 or sooner if the $5,000 match has been met.
$3,000
Anderson Board Legacy Participation Challenge
We are aiming for 800! During DayOne thanks to a generous match to the Montana Tech Foundation Board Legacy Fund by Foundation legacy board member and alum Sundra Anderson, every time we pass a 100 donor total all the way up to 700 we will add $3,000 to the overall DayOne total and if we hit 800 it will unlock an additional $4,000 for a total of $25,000.
100 Gift Goal
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Leaderboard
Departmental Challenge Leaderboard
Montana Tech Departments are competing head-to-head for a chance to earn extra money towards their department by bringing in the most donors to their project. The top ten finishers split the pot valued at up to $20,000.
Department (20)
Share on social with #RollDiggs!
DayOne 2026 Donor Map
Rank State Gifts
1 NONE 0
1 AA 0
1 AE 0
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Questions? See our FAQ.

Or you can contact us at spanisko@mtech.edu.