2025 Community Star Winner!

Bright n’ Beautiful Presents 2025 Community Star Award to Dave Wanzenried

 Local leader honored for preservation efforts in Yellowstone County  

Billings, March 16, 2026:  Bright n’ Beautiful, the Keep America Beautiful affiliate for Yellowstone County, is proud to announce that Billings resident Dave Wanzenried is the recipient of the 2025 Bright n’ Beautiful Community Star Award. Bright n’ Beautiful created the award in 2018 to annually recognize people in the community who have made outstanding contributions to the beauty and well-being of Yellowstone County. 

Dave Wanzenried is honored for his efforts to restore and improve the once dilapidated Canyon Creek Battlefield interpretive site in Molt, returning it to a fitting and well-maintained memorial to the soldiers and warriors who perished there during the Battle of Canyon Creek in 1877. He is also commended for his dedication to improving the historic Coulson “Boothill” Cemetery in Billings. In both these instances, Dave inspired and energized his fellow citizens, coordinating his efforts with local government, area businesses and non-profits, and many individuals to help design and fund improvements. 

"Dave Wanzenried has demonstrated vital leadership in restoring and preserving key historical sites, says former Billings Mayor Bill Cole. “His work at the Canyon Creek Battlefield Memorial Site and Boothill Cemetery ensures these landmarks make our community proud." 

On behalf of Our Montana, a nonprofit dedicated to conservation, history, and responsible recreation across the state, Mike Penfold wholeheartedly affirms this recognition. “We believe that meaningful preservation requires both vision and perseverance. Dave embodies both. We are grateful for his leadership.”

“Dave is just the kindest, most-willing, dedicated and caring man, “ adds Lynnadele Nielsen, Billings-area Specialist for JustServe.org, a service that links community needs with volunteers. “Thank you, Dave, for letting JustServe be a little part of your love for our community as you serve so unselfishly and faithfully.” 

Dave Wanzenried joins the Yellowstone Area National Smokejumper Association and the Yellowstone River Research Center as the most recent recipients of the Bright n’ Beautiful Community Star Award. On behalf of a grateful community, we thank Dave Wanzenried for his valuable contributions to preserving the beauty and well-being of Yellowstone County. 

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About Dave Wanzenried

Dave is a former Montana legislator and adjunct instructor of political science at Montana State University Billings. He served as the state senator from Missoula from 2007 to 2015, after previously serving as a member of the House of Representatives from Kalispell (1991-1995) and Missoula (2001-2007). 

About Bright n’ Beautiful

Founded in 1988, Bright n’ Beautiful is a nonprofit organization serving Billings and Yellowstone County. It is a proud affiliate of the nation’s leading community improvement organization, Keep America Beautiful, and has achieved the 2025 President’s Circle designation, recognizing exemplary performance by certified affiliates in creating clean, green, and beautiful communities. Bright n’ Beautiful collaborates with individual volunteers and organizations throughout the region to end littering, promote recycling and beautify our shared environment. For more information visit www.bnbyc.org and www.kab.org