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South Dakota Board of Regents
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, June 29, 2004
CONTACT: Janelle Toman, (605) 773-3455
Returning Soldiers Honored with Scholarships
PIERRE, S.D. – Six undergraduate students at South Dakota public universities, who have been on active-duty military service, will receive scholarships at the July 3 Independence Day celebration at Mount Rushmore National Memorial.
Each scholarship covers the cost of the student’s tuition and fees for the 2004-05 academic year. The funds were made available from university foundations representing Black Hills State University, Dakota State University, Northern State University, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, South Dakota State University, and The University of South Dakota.
“Fourth of July at Mount Rushmore is one of the most popular patriotic celebrations in the country,” Robert T. Tad Perry, executive director of the South Dakota Board of Regents, which governs the six state universities. “We are honored to join with thousands of South Dakotans at this event to recognize our student soldiers.”
Students receiving the South Dakota Regental Military Service Scholarship are:
· Black Hills State University - Tricia L. Beringer of Spearfish, a biology major, is currently stationed with the 842nd Engineering Company at the Baghdad International Airport as a Food Specialist. She was named the South Dakota Soldier of the Year for 2003. She completed 1,000 hours of a certified nurse's assistant clinical training program and is pursuing emergency medical technician training in addition to working towards her bachelor's degree in biology at BHSU.
· Dakota State University - Jason D. Martin of Madison, a freshman business administration major, who is a member of the 1742nd Det. 1 Transportation Company of Flandreau. Martin was activated in January of 2003. His unit was stationed in Kuwait and served as supply line from the navel port in Kuwait to the marine forces in Iraq. The unit also aided in the transportation of troops and humanitarian aid. He plans to complete his degree in business administration.
· Northern State University - Prairie Grate, of Isabel, a secondary education history major, who is a member of the 200th Engineering Company, Army National Guard of Mobridge. Grate’s unit was activated in January 2003 and deployed to Kuwait. The unit was later stationed north of Baghdad where they built, maintained and guarded bridges. The unit returned in March 2004 and Grate is currently enrolled for the fall 2004 semester at Northern. She hopes to teach in a small community after graduation.
· South Dakota School of Mines and Technology - Roy Gullickson, of Marion, a industrial engineering major, who is a member of the 3665th Maintenance Company, Sioux Falls. Gullickson’s unit was called to active service February 2003. The unit supported active duty field artillery units in Fort Sill, OK who were preparing to replace units that been deployed to Iraq. Gullickson received Army Commendation Medals for good service, physical fitness and military bearing. He attended the 2002 Rushmore Fireworks celebration as a member of the National Guard security staff as part of the heightened security following 9-11. Gullickson plans to earn his bachelor’s degree and then attend graduate school.
· South Dakota State University – Luke Perman of Lowry, a junior range science major, who is a member of the 200th Engineer Company of Pierre, Chamberlain, Mobridge, and Lemmon. Perman was activated in January 2003 and stationed as a bridge crew member in Iraq from April 2003 to March 2004. Perman was injured in a mortar attack while in Iraq and still carries a piece of shrapnel in his back. He plans a career in ranching after college graduation.
· University of South Dakota - Werner Christensen of Freeman is a contemporary media & journalism and theatre double major. Christensen served in Iraq for 12 months. He was a Patient Administrator for the Company B 109 Area Support Medical Battalion at Camp New York Kuwait and the Baghdad International Airport. After graduating from USD he plans to move to the east coast to continue his education.
The scholarships will be presented at 6:55 p.m. (MDT) July 3 at the Mount Rushmore amphitheater, as part of the Independence Day Celebration activities throughout the holiday weekend.
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