Charlie McClung Scholarship and Dwayne LaFave BHSU Scholarship

Who was Charlie McClung? 

Charlie McClung was the original band leader for the Belle Fourche Cowboy Band back in 1931, and was instrumental (pun intended) in it's success. Charlie McClung, at one time was a trumpet player in the John Philip Sousa Band in Chicago. He both directed and participated in the Cowboy Band until sometime after the second World War. Members of the band say he was a good musician and band instructor. Everyone liked him. He not only instructed the Cowboy Band here, but also the Spearfish high school and college bands. He directed until his sight was so bad that he had to step aside. 

The Charlie McClung Scholarship

In 1988, former band member Mr. Fay Couch started a campaign to start a memorial scholarship in Charlie's name. At the time, it wasn't clear what these funds would be used for but a committee was quickly formed to decide just that. The committee decided that they would use the money for students success, just as Charlie would have done. Since then, The Charlie McClung memorial scholarship has been awarded to students to fund their trip to summer music camps and collegiate scholarships. Through this scholarship, Charlie continues to make an impact on students in the Northern Hills. Today, the scholarship awards $500 to deserving students. 

How to apply for the Charlie McClung Scholarship

Students can follow the link below for the scholarship application. Among other things, there is one big requirement for scholarship application - the student must play in the cowboy band!

Link  👉  Charlie McClung Memorial Scholarship Application

Past Recipients

1990 - Michelle Snoozy

1991 - Lindsay Husband

1992 - Cindy Crecelius

1993 - Wendy Stevens

1994 - Holly Reich

1995 - Angela Wall

1996 - Kate Rothermel

1997 - Tim Stearns

1998 - Erin Speidel

1999 - Megan Ryther

2000 - Jennifer Walker

2001 - Sandra Kane

2002 - Kirby Gusso

2003 - Nathan Stephens

2004 - Jenna Mahaffy

2005 - Trey Sutherland

2006 - Candi Beckett

2007 - Peter Dewey

2008 - Margo Ensz

2009 - Karlee Gusso

2009 - Kaitlyn Gusso

2010 - Emily Carr

2011 - Molly O'Connell

2012 - Dillon Bryant

2013 - Amanda Hoffmeyer

2014 - Mariana Meza

2015 - Amanda Hoffmeyer

2016 - Jacob Penning

2017 - Savanna Thomas

2018 - Cordell Seyersdahl

2018 - Tim Doerges

2019 - Loki Larive

2024 - Ariana Richter

Historical Documents

Attached here are photos of the original letters from Fay Couch starting his campaign. After that, you will find a photo of quotes from Charlie McClung former students and bandmates. 

___________________________________________________________________________________

Dwayne LaFave Northern Hills Community Band and/or Belle Fourche Cowboy Band Scholarship

This scholarship is available to students who participate in the Belle Fourche Cowboy Band and/or the Northern Hills Community Band. Priority will be given to students who participate in both bands over students who only participate in one or the other. 

Students who participate in other local community bands may be considered if there is no other candidate that meets the criteria. 

To be eligible, student's application must indicate in which group(s) they participated and when. Preference will go to the student with the most experience in these groups and also to music majors/minors at BHSU. Money will only be awarded using the criterion and funds will remain to build the endowment when no applicant meets the criteria. All students are eligible and may receive it multiple years if deserving. 

The BHSU music department is responsible for soliciting applications and for confirming participation in the designated community bands. 

The goal of this scholarship is to foster participation in bands beyond the school music program with the idea that BHSU students can meld their community band experiences into social as well as musical ones, developing lifelong friends and at the same time financially benefiting university music department students. 

The recipient must have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher. Full-time enrollment.

Visit the website to apply! : https://bhsu.scholarships.ngwebsolutions.com/Scholarships/Search