Creating a Legacy Kelli Clarkson Memorial Scholarship established for photography students T


he Clarkson family recently donated $10,000 to establish the Kelli Clarkson Memorial Scholarship Fund at Black Hills State University. Kelli was born March 4, 1953, and grew up on a farm east of Belle Fourche. She graduated from Belle Fourche High School in 1971 and married Alan Crago that summer. She worked for the Posy Palace in Belle Fourche and various flower shops in Spearfish and Boulder, Colo. An extremely gifted artist, Kelli created art using as many different mediums as her imagination could conjure. These included painting, photography, floral arrangement, jewelry, pottery, textiles, interior design, and gourmet cooking. According to Cathy Bennett, Kelli’s sister, it was truly a delight to see her many creations. Kelli also had a wanderlust from an early age, and life's travels took her many places including Canada, Chile, Ecuador, Egypt, Tobago, Ethiopia, and many, many points in between. Kelli was diagnosed with cancer in February 2010.


The scholarship is designated for a sophomore, junior, or senior majoring in mass communication with an emphasis in photography.


For information about establishing a scholarship at BHSU, contact Steve Meeker, vice president of University Advancement at BHSU, at (605) 642-6228 or Steve.Meeker@BHSU.edu.


Alberts establish athletic scholarship endowment


A


rthur “Lee" Albert, Class of '48, and his wife, Quindred, Class of '75, donated $20,000 to establish an athletic scholarship endowment at Black Hills State University. Lee played basketball for BHSU in the 1940s and was on the 1946-47 team that won the South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference and the Montana-Dakota Conference with a 13-7 record.


Lee graduated from BHSU with a biology degree and is a retired school administrator. Quindred earned her elementary education degree and is a retired K-8 school teacher. The couple currently lives in Newcastle, Wyo.


The Clarkson family recently donated $10,000 to establish the Kelli Clarkson Memorial Scholarship Fund at BHSU. Pictured (l to r) are: Steve Babbitt, professor of photography at BHSU; Cathy Bennett, Kelli’s sister; Shelby Cihak, Kelli’s niece and senior secretary for the College of Liberal Arts at BHSU; and Steve Meeker, vice president of University Advancement at BHSU.


Williams and Ree performance raises over $7,000 for scholarships


Nearly 400 people were in attendance when Williams and Ree returned to their alma mater for a concert performance


that raised over $7,000 for scholarships. Taking the stage with the legendary Williams and Ree duo were Dennis Van Vactor and Kenny Putnam. Williams and Ree have been performing their unique comedy and music shows for more than 40 years. They met in 1968 while attending BHSU, where they began playing together in a band and often filled time between their songs with their unique brand of humor. After realizing that the humor became a bigger draw than the music, the comedy team was born.


Black Hills State University Alumni Magazine Page 15


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24