Art Orr ’78 – Always coming back for more!

Art Orr just kept coming back for more… education, that is.

Art receiving a prize for winning the alumni survey drawing.

After graduating high school in Bigfork, MT, Art enrolled in the Montana Institute of Bible, graduating in 1972 with a degree in Education and Music. He worked as a youth pastor for a few years at the First Baptist Church in Sheridan. He then joined the Sheridan Police Department for six years, following that with four years as a Deputy Sheriff in Sheridan County.  During this time, he decided to further his expertise in his field and enrolled in the Criminal Justice program at Sheridan College, graduating in 1978 with an Associates Degree.

“The education I received was excellent. I really felt comfortable with the instructors and my fellow students. If anyone had a question, the instructors would make sure you understood the answer. If anyone had a problem with anything, it would get resolved.“

After ten years in law enforcement, he decided to change careers and returned to Sheridan College to earn his prerequisites for an Education degree. He completed his Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education through the online program at the University of Wyoming in 1985.

Art spent the next thirty plus years as a teacher, camp director, coach, and sports official in the Sheridan area. He came full circle when he returned to Sheridan College and worked as an adjunct professor in Geology from 2014-2018.

Throughout the years, he took advantage of every opportunity to further his education, earning a Master’s in Natural Science in ’97, a Graduate Certificate in Biology and Earth Sciences in 2022, and multiple graduate coursework opportunities in between, including getting certified as a Personal Trainer in 2021.

He credits his time at Sheridan College with giving him a good start to his education. “I think more kids would stay in college if they had that comfort level that I had when I was here. At Sheridan College, you are not a number; your instructors know your name and who you are.  I felt like everyone here was working hard to help me succeed!”

Although he is now retired, Art still helps out when and where he is needed. And, as Art has stated, you are never too old to keep your mind working and to continue learning!