McCready scholarships awarded to five high school students

Valley City State University recently awarded five high school students with the McCready Scholarship.

On March 8, the students were surprised with the news during a virtual meeting with President Alan LaFave, Sheldon Greywater, admissions counselor, and Kim Svenningsen Hesch, assistant director for university advancement. This year’s recipients are Brooke Anderson, Josie Dallman, Cameron Pero, Mackenzie Rist and LilyBeth Townsend.

Brooke Anderson, York, N.D. attends Rugby High School. Her parents are Steve and Kim Anderson and she plans to pursue a degree in health sciences. 

Josie Dallman attends Kulm High School and is a resident of Lehr, N.D. She is the daughter of Lori Dallman and will major in business administration.

Cameron Pero attends Lashburn High School in Lashburn, Sask. He is the son of Tina and Dave Pero and will major in composite chemistry education.

Mackenzie Rist, Minot, N.D., attends De Lacs – Burlington High School. Her parents are Jason and Kari Rist and she will study health science and biology at VCSU.

LilyBeth Townsend is a native of Wahpeton, N.D. and attends Fairmount High School. She is the daughter of Jay and Rikki Townsend and plans to pursue an English education degree.

In 2004, Dr. Richard and Ardis (Severson) McCready established the McCready Scholars Endowment at Valley City State University. Each McCready scholar receives full funding for tuition, fees, and books. The scholarship is re-awarded annually for a maximum of four years of support to those who maintain a 3.5 grade point average and make yearly progress toward their degree.

“The McCreadys believed in lifelong learning and therefore set up an endowment to support students at VCSU. They started with a scholarship in honor of a former faculty member and in 2004 set up their own scholarship endowment. This is our largest renewal scholarship to date,” said Kim Svenningsen Hesch, assistant director for university advancement.

Dr. Richard McCready ‘49, served many years as a professor of quantitative systems at Arizona State University. In 1982, the VCSU Alumni Association presented McCready with the Distinguished Alumni Award. Ardis (Severson) McCready ‘47, served many years as a legal secretary and public school teacher.