In her four years at Montana State University, giving campus tours to prospective students and their families made Katie Delker very good at walking backwards. She also learned more MSU trivia than most students ever do.
Her deep commitment to being involved in the campus community, Delker said, was borne from her own experience as a prospective student. Originally from Soldotna, Alaska, near Anchorage, she said that half a dozen members of her 130-person graduating high school class continued their studies at MSU thanks to outstanding recruitment.
“They did a great job coming to our college fair, and then I visited and saw how beautiful it was in Bozeman and was like, ‘Yeah, I can go to school here,’” she recalled.
Delker arrived in 2021 as a recipient of MSU’s provost scholarship and undecided as to what she would study. The daughter of two veterinarians, she carried a deep love for animals and for rural communities like the one she grew up in. She initially declared a major in University Studies, a program that allows students to explore fields that interest them and make general academic progress before committing to an area of study.
All it took was one biology class to solidify her plans.
“It ended up being my favorite class of the entire semester,” Delker said. “So, then I knew that I wanted to declare microbiology and pre-vet. I always take every opportunity I can to hype up the University Studies program at MSU. Their support is incredible.”
Delker, who was also a student in the MSU Honors College, built communities around the university immediately. She conducted undergraduate research with MSU’s Center for Biofilm Engineering, a cross-disciplinary lab that studies crucial microorganisms in medicine, engineering and the natural world. From club sports and musical ensembles to ASMSU, she said one of the most special groups was in the College of Agriculture, which houses the pre-veterinary program and the Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology.
“The community is wonderful and the advisers, everyone in the department were fantastic,” she said. “I honestly love being part of the first college that was at Montana State.”
Vice Provost Durward Sobek, who served as interim dean of the Honors College for the 2024-25 academic year, said that Delker exemplified what the college’s mission is all about.
“Katie is one of those students who, when they see a need in their community, pursues solutions to that need with passion and perseverance,” Sobek said. “She brings people along with her enthusiasm and communication abilities. It’s wonderful to see a person apply their intellect and talents to the betterment of their community.”
Now that she has graduated, Delker will continue her studies at the University of Minnesota, pursuing her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. She will be supported by an $8,500 fellowship from the Phi Kappa Phi honor society, one of 40 students across the U.S. to receive the award.
She will spend four years in Minnesota, and after the first two will pick a track on which to focus. She anticipates selecting mixed animal medicine — the better to provide care for a broad range of animals in a rural community.
Delker feels confident in her ability to succeed in graduate school, thanks in large part to the support she received from every corner of MSU’s campus. In addition to the faculty in the College of Agriculture and the Honors College, she said the tangential support from the Allen Yarnell Center for Student Success, which helped her with mock interviews as she applied to veterinary school, was invaluable.
“There are many ways that MSU prepares you academically, but I also feel very prepared in terms of communication skills and accountability and individual determination to get things done,” she said. “MSU really helps you build up those skills and make you feel empowered to drive your own education.”
Because of her longtime involvement with the Office of Admissions, Delker has a soft spot in her heart for prospective students exploring their options for higher education. When it comes to advice for those coming after her, she recalls something her own orientation leader said four years ago as she prepared to begin her college journey.
“You can be a mentor without knowing it, so lead with your best foot forward,” she said. “I always tell people that there’s no wrong way to get involved. You can join as many groups as you want and you can find what you’re passionate about, and once you do, just stick with it. Do what you need to do to feel happy and fulfilled, and you’re going to meet some amazing people along the way.”
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