Interviewer
Michael Ellsworth
Files
Description
Jerry Seidensticker graduated with a bachelor’s in education from University of Montana Western in 1978; achieved his masters in 1990; and in 1999, earned his doctorate at the University of Montana, Missoula. He taught mathematics and girls basketball in several elementary and middle schools across western Montana. Seidensticker retired after being a Principal at Rattlesnake Elementary School in Missoula, MT. Seidensticker discusses the emergence and infancy of women's sports in western Montana beginning in the late 1980’s at the college level and how women's basketball, in particular for the last 35 years, has evolved into a highly competitive and specialized sport. Seidensticker describes how highly competitive it has become for high school students to achieve scholarships for future college applications therefore must begin at the elementary and middle school levels. Seidensticker details how the local school administrators are always fighting for more financial funding to support such growing demands of year-long specialized sports, as each sport has also become uniquely expensive, whether the demand falls on buying sports equipment or travel costs. Seidensticker reminisces about the time he spent teaching and training Montanan youth into becoming intelligent student athletes capable of competing with other school districts at the state and national levels. Seidensticker shares the impact of how important it is for communities across Montana to support the growth and development of Montanan youth in all school sports activities because supporting our young school children is fundamental and paramount as society advances for the better. Interviewer Michael Ellsworth was an undergraduate student working on the Griz Nation Oral History Project as part of the Griz130 History Initiative.
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Document Type
Oral History
Subjects
elementary education; youth sports; women; women’s sports; Rattlesnake Elementary School; Missoula, Montana; University of Montana; athletics; college sports; sports; western Montana; high school athletics; scholarships; financial aid; teaching; education
Original Date
11-8-2024
Publisher
University of Montana--Missoula. Mansfield Library
Time Period
Twentieth century; Twenty-first century
Geographic Coverage
Missoula, Montana
Language
eng
Original Collection
University of Montana Griz Nation Oral History Collection
Digital Publisher
University of Montana--Missoula. Mansfield Library
Rights
Copyright to this collection is held by the interview participants and by the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, University of Montana-Missoula. Permission may be required for use. For further information please contact Archives and Special Collections: (406) 243-2053 / library.archives@umontana.edu
Oral History Number
OH 492-012
Media Type
Sound;Text
Original Format
audio/mp3; application/pdf
Digital Format
audio/mp3; application/pdf
Run Time
00:32:43 minutes
Local Filename
OH_492_012_audio_use.mp3; OH_492_012_transcript.pdf; OH_492_012_photo.jpg
Citation
Seidensticker, Jerry, "Jerry Seidensticker Interview, November 8, 2024" (2024). University of Montana Griz Nation Oral History Collection. 12.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/griznation/12