The University of Montana Western is rolling out the red carpet on Saturday, April 26, 2025, for the 12th Annual Night of Stars Education Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony—and one of Fallon’s very own will be shining brightly.
Eileen Lane Haugen, a beloved longtime art teacher at Churchill County High School, will be honored for her decades of service to students and her deep roots in education.
A proud third-generation graduate of Montana Western, Eileen earned her degree in Elementary Education with a Broad Field Art Major in 1987. She grew up in Dillon, Montana, graduated from Beaverhead County High School, and left her mark on campus—not just in the art studio but across student life. She earned the Mary Baker Emerick Art Scholarship all four years, landed on the Dean’s List regularly, and served in everything from the Spurs as Vice President to the student senate.
Her teaching career began in Forsyth, Montana, but Fallon is where she made her home—and made a difference. Over 29 years in the Churchill County School District, Eileen inspired junior high and high school students alike to find their creative voices. At CCHS, she chaired the art department, organized exhibits of student work, mentored new teachers, and helped shape curriculum, all while making sure every student’s effort had a place on the wall.
She believed deeply in the power of art to boost confidence, pride, and connection—and she never missed a chance to showcase what her students could do.
Outside the classroom, Eileen raised a family with her husband, Jon, whom she was married to for 31 years. Together, they raised three children and welcomed five grandchildren. She often spoke fondly of her time at Montana Western, especially a 17-day study tour through Europe’s greatest art museums, a journey that shaped her own creative heart.
President of the Board of Trustees for the Churchill County School District, Gregg Malkovich, who is also a Montana Western alum, said, “Eileen brought the kind of creativity to our schools that you just can’t measure in test scores. I can say we’re known for producing educators who leave a legacy, and Eileen’s fingerprints are all over the hearts of the students she’s taught. Plus, she made the art hallway the best-looking wing in the building.”
The Night of Stars ceremony, hosted in partnership with Stockman Bank, celebrates educators who’ve gone above and beyond.
Dinner and ceremony tickets can be purchased by contacting Kelly Allen at 406-683-7306 or online at tinyurl.com/UMWstars.
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