Our Team
kelly hughes milodragovich
Owner | Director of Client Relations | Post Secondary Education Advisor
Kelly was born and raised in Montana and had first-hand experience with extensive college scholarship work while trying to fund her undergraduate degree. After earning significant funding through scholarships, she graduated from the Davidson Honors College at The University of Montana with degrees in English and Political Science. At that point, Kelly channeled her love of teaching and education into a tutoring and college preparation business. While the company’s primary goal is to improve academic skills in preparation for college and beyond, Hughes College Prep also aims to help the student grow and develop in terms of self-esteem, connection to the community, and interdisciplinary application of their knowledge.
When not working with her clients, Kelly spends time traveling and relaxing with her husband, Sam, and their two daughters.
katie cotner
Director of Educational Services
Katie was born and raised in Whitefish, MT. She attended the University of Montana for both her undergraduate and graduate education. She has a Bachelors in Psychology with a teaching certificate in Secondary Education and Special Education. She also has a Masters degree in School Counseling. Previous to her Director position at Hughes College Prep, she was a teacher and school counselor for 10 years. In her free time Katie enjoys spending time with her husband and two boys.
Feel free to email Katie at katie@hughescollegeprep.com
sam milodragovich
Director of Outreach | Post Secondary Education Advisor
Samuel has his BA in History and minors in Political Science and Geography with an emphasis in Central and Southwest Asian Studies from The University of Montana. He has worked with Hughes Tutoring since its inception and initiated our international outreach efforts. Sam works with students on the full range of college preparation services, but he specializes in the fields of study skills assistance and writing.
Sam is a voracious reader and, though he is one of the few members of our team without an English degree, his page count and vocabulary rival all of ours. He also enjoys the outdoors, gaming, and spending time with his wife, Kelly, and their two daughters.
elizabeth howard
College Athletics Specialist | Post Secondary Education Advisor
Elizabeth holds a BA in English and Sociology from Washington University in St. Louis, and a MA in Psychology from The University of Montana. As a mother of three boys, Elizabeth joined the Hughes team in 2012 after experiencing our services as a client. She works with students on the full range of college preparation and application elements, and also consults with clients specifically in the areas of Collegiate Athletics and Writing.
When not tutoring, Elizabeth volunteers as a Missoula Writing Coach and enjoys hiking, cooking, gardening, and competitive tennis.
lisa teberg-johnson
Post Secondary Education Advisor
Lisa is based in Helena, Montana. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Portland State University and Bachelor of Arts degrees in Psychology and English from the University of Montana. Her background includes experience in higher education teaching English composition and college success courses. Lisa enjoys reading, traveling, hiking, and gardening.
hallie lopuch
Post Secondary Education Advisor
Hallie is passionate about kids, planning & organizing. She has a BA in Organizational Communications from the University of Montana and a diverse background in business. She also worked in the public school system as an Administrative Secretary before transitioning to managing her two daughters’ online/homeschool education during their middle school/high school years. After supporting her oldest daughter through the college and scholarship application process to the just-right fit, she is excited to put her interests to work in helping others find their right fit. She loves helping people feel informed and successful and enjoys researching, organizing information, and making things happen. Hallie also works, volunteers & travels with her daughters’ dance studio and their performance and competition teams. Her most favorite thing is spending time with family.
mary miller
Post Secondary Education Advisor
Mary Eleanor Miller was born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina. After traveling the country and living in several states, the Universe decided to settle her in Missoula, Montana. Mary has a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in Photography and a Bachelor of Science in psychology from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a Masters in Counselor Education from the University of Montana. Prior to working for Hughes she was a high school counselor in the Bitterroot Valley.
When she’s not researching college admission requirements or asking her students if they need a snack, she enjoys reading, doing crossword puzzles, and watching old episodes of Star Trek.
matthew kolman
Post Secondary Essay Advisor and Editor
Matt was born and raised in Doylestown, Bucks County, PA. He received a B. A. in Honors English and American literature from the Pennsylvania State University and an M. A. in the Teaching of Secondary English from Boston University and the State University of New York at Albany. He taught Grade 12 Advanced Placement English, SAT Prep and Gifted Education for thirty-one years at Central Bucks West High School in southeastern Pennsylvania, retiring as Chairman of the English Department. He moved to the Bitterroot Valley in Montana in 2014 and is now often found on the local ski mountains or enjoying his sailboat on Flathead Lake. He and his wife, Flora, have two children and five grandchildren who live in upstate New York and Montana along with an amusing French bulldog named Coco.
simon silverstein
Math Academic Advisor | Test Prep Advisor
Simon Silverstein grew up in Missoula and graduated from Hellgate High School. A former Hughes College Prep student, he finds math wonderfully captivating and cannot wait to help others. Along with tutoring, he is extremely fond of coding and will be completing a year of web development before pursuing a degree from Case Western.
During his spare time, you can find Simon at the tennis courts slowly learning how to hit a decent backhand.
estrella pallis-bonadurer
Academic Advisor
Estrella Pallis-Bonadurer is originally from Missoula, MT. She spent her first year of college at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. before deciding to finish her degree closer to home. She now attends Montana State University where she is pursuing both a Geography and a Spanish degree. She is a firm believer that education opens up a world of opportunities - professionally & socially - and is grateful for all that the academic world has provided her. Because of this, she is passionate about helping students achieve their goals academically.
In her free time, Estrella enjoys hiking, reading, spending time with friends, and listening to Taylor Swift.