Scholarships

Frances J. (Miller) Anderson grew up in Redfield, South Dakota, and attended South Dakota State University, graduating in 1959 with a B.S. degree in Physics. She went on to earn M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Physics from the University of Minnesota. Dr. Anderson died in April 2009. The scholarship is awarded annually to rising juniors and seniors.

The Froslie-Wilcox Freshman Scholarship was created by Archie Wilcox, a 1953 SDSU physics engineering graduate, and 1955 M.S. in Physics, to memorialize Harold Froslie, a former head of the SDSU’s Physics Department. Harold Froslie, originally from Philip, SD, received a B.A. degree in Physics in 1936 from Augustana College. He received his Master’s degree in 1942 from the University of Iowa. After working as a research engineer for Sylvania in New York City, he studied at the University of Wisconsin, completing his Doctorate in 1947. After two years at Kansas State University, Froslie served as a teacher, administrator and research scientist at SDSU for 27 years until his death in 1976. Archie Wilcox, was raised in Nunda, SD, moving to Colman, SD, when he started his studies at SDSU. He and his wife, Ethel, reside in Richland, WA, where Archie has been a nuclear engineer for Westinghouse for almost 20 years.

Susan Lahr graduated from SDSU, College of Pharmacy in 1975. Gordon Niva graduated from State in 1973 majoring in Engineering Physics and Chemistry. While at SDSU Gordon and Susan were very active in campus activities with Gordon being honored as “Wearie Willie” at Hobo Days in 1976. Susan and Gordon married in 1975 while Gordon was attending graduate school at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln he received his Masters in Physics in 1975 and a Ph.D. in Astrophysics in 1979. The couple then moved to California where Susan attended California State University-Fullerton and graduated with a Masters in Business Administration in 1983. Susan has worked for Longs Drug Stores as a pharmacy manager and has also worked on special projects for the company. Gordon was hired by Rockwell International of Anaheim, CA and worked in system engineering and management of advanced missile systems until 1996. In 1996 Rockwell divested Gordon’s business unit to the Boeing Company. He works for Boeing now as their cruise missile defense business development manager.

The Harold M. and Betty L. Froslie Physics Scholarship Fund was established in memory of Dr. Froslie by friends, alumni, and members of his family. Harold Froslie served as a teacher, administrator and research scientist at SDSU for 27 years until his death in 1976. He was born in 1916 at Philip, S.D. Harold received his Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, in 1940. He then enrolled at the University of Iowa, receiving his Master of Science degree in Physics there in 1942. He received his Doctorate degree in Physics from the University of Wisconsin in 1947, with his major field of interest being atomic and molecular physics. Prior to receiving his Ph.D. degree, he was a research engineer for Sylvania in New York City, and while studying for his doctorate was a research assistant at the University of Wisconsin. From 1947 to 1949, Harold was an assistant professor of Physics at Kansas State University. He came to SDSU in 1949 as professor and head of the Department of Physics, a position he held for over 26 years. Virginia Lee "Betty" Froslie died February 24, 1992.

James H. Barnett graduated from Brookings High School in 1986 as one of the top ten honor students in his class. He graduated from SDSU in 1992, with highest honor with a double major in Physics and Electrical Engineering, and was a member of Sigma Pi Sigma. He worked at Daktronics during most of his college years. In 1993, he began work at ICONtrol in Watertown and was there for two years before moving to Fairmont, MN, where he was employed as an engineer for Kayler Automation. Jim was killed in a snowmobile accident in Wisconsin in 1996.

The Lloyd Baillie-Atlantic Richfield Scholarship was established in 1980 by the Atlantic Richfield Corporations in Los Angeles, CA. Lloyd Baillie received his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from SDSU in 1952. He joined the Atlantic Richfield Corporation in 1956 and was employed as a Research Associate at Atlantic Richfield technical center in Harvey, IL and later became a Research Advisor. Mr. Baillie is now retired.

The Robert and Alverda Lynch Scholarship was established by Mrs. Robert (Alverda) Lynch in remembrance of Dr. Lynch. Robert Lynch, born in 1925, received his B.A. and M.S. degrees in Physics from the University of Iowa. Mr. Lynch served in the U.S. Army, and following his discharge taught at the University of Northern Illinois. He later received his Ph.D. from Oklahoma University and in 1966 moved to Brookings, where he served as assistant professor in the Physics Department. Dr. Lynch was a member of various professional organizations and was very interested in classical music. He died June 28, 1986. Mrs. Lynch passed away in 1992.

Robert S. Garthune, a Flandreau native, graduated from SDSU in 1929 with a degree in general science that included numerous courses in physics. Mr. Garthune lettered in track and field while he attended SDSU as well. In a 25-year government career, primarily with the Navy's Bureau of Ships, Mr. Garthune's work was directed at reducing the threat to U.S. and Allied shipping from enemy mines and torpedoes. He rose to the position of head of the Research Section of the Mine and Torpedo Countermeasures Branch and worked on countermeasures against homing acoustic torpedoes and magnetic, acoustic and pressure mines. Garthune retired in 1966. A widower, he resided in Maryland and has a son and daughter who also live in Maryland. He passed away in 1998.

The Reinhart Memorial Scholarship is named for Raymond E. Reinhart, who was a member of the Physics Department from 1934 until his death in 1947. The scholarship was established by Gene Amdahl, one of his students who has enjoyed a successful career in industry. Professor Reinhart's sister, Helen Tschurr, of Bakersfield, California, provided the primary financing for this program through an estate gift in 1986. Gene Amdahl was raised in Flandreau, South Dakota. He graduated from SDSU in 1948 with a degree in engineering physics. Amdahl was the chief designer of the IBM 704 and IBM 360 mainframe computers. He started the Amdahl Corporation in Sunnyvale, California, and later formed the Trilogy, Ltd. computer firm. He later became CEO of Modular Power Corp., then CEO and president of Andor Systems, Inc.

Helen Tschurr was born in 1910, at Goltry, Oklahoma. She graduated from high school in Enid, Oklahoma. Tschurr later moved to California where she completed a business education degree and pursued a business career in Bakersfield.

Waldemar Gamaliel Sippel was born February 14, 1925 in Ruff, Washington to parents Reverend John Christoph and Linda A.O. (Sumnicht) Sippel. He died June 19, 2010 at his home in Beresford, South Dakota at the age of 85 years. He graduated from high school at the age of 16 in Revillo, South Dakota. He immediately began studies at the University of South Dakota but these were interrupted so he could serve in the U.S. Army as a medic during WWII. He was stationed at a hospital in India. After his military service, Wally returned to South Dakota to resume his studies. He received a Bachelors and Masters Degree from the University of South Dakota. Wally taught at the University of South Dakota after his marriage to Marjorie Anne Nelson on August 19, 1949. Wally then became an assistant professor, teaching both physics and astronomy at South Dakota State University. Brookings was home for Wally and Marge until their retirement. In 1992, they moved to Beresford. Wally was an active member of the Beresford Lions Club, Beresford Senior Citizens and Beresford Emmanuel Lutheran Church.

The Trapp Family Scholarship was established by Lansford Trapp, Sr. and his wife, Frances, and five of their children. The Trapp family's association with the university began before World War II when Lansford Sr. enrolled with the engineering department in 1937. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps as an aviation cadet in 1940 and returned to SDSU in 1946 to receive his bachelor's degree in engineering physics in 1948. He was an assistant professor of mathematics at SDSU from 1967 until his retirement in 1983. The five Trapp children, who helped establish the endowment, are all SDSU graduates. Lansford Jr. attended SDSU under a two-year AFROTC scholarship, earned his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering in 1969, and married Nancy Eneboe. Mark Trapp attended SDSU under a three year Air Force ROTC scholarship, obtaining a BS degree in electrical engineering in 1971. Dick Trapp attended SDSU under a four-year AFROTC scholarship, earned his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering in 1976, and married Kathy Metzger, a 1978 SDSU graduate. Paul Trapp attended SDSU under a four-year AFROTC scholarship, received his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering in 1977, and married Leesa Sulgrove. Seve Trapp attended SDSU under a four-year AFROTC scholarship, earned his bachelor's degree in physics in 1979, and married Renee Huber, a 1982 SDSU graduate. 

The Perry Williams Physics Award was created by students, alumni, faculty and friends to honor and recognize Professor Williams. The award was established by the Department of Physics upon his retirement. Perry Williams was born 1914 at White, South Dakota. He graduated from White High School and attended Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, where he received his B.A. degree as a science major in 1936. He then became a graduate student a laboratory instructor in physics at SDSU. In 1940, he received his M.S. degree from State. From 1941 to 1945 during World War II, he served the U.S. Army, which included a tour of duty in Europe. Following the end of the war, he returned to teaching at SDSU, joining the Physics Department. Professor Williams taught the General Physics course for engineering and science majors. He also designed many of the laboratory experiments still used in physics courses. Professor William retired in 1979. Perry Williams died November 3, 2000.

The Peter O’Hara Memorial Scholarship was established by Peter O’Hara’s mother, Anna, shortly before she died in 1976.  Peter O’Hara was an Engineering Physics major at SDSU who graduated in 1950. He worked at the National Bureau of Standards in Washington, D.C., and at Gaithersburg, Maryland, for 21 years. In 1964, he received the highest award in the history of the Department of Commerce for his contribution to programming the National Fallout Shelter Survey. In 1966, he became Chief of the Computer Services Division and had major responsibility for selecting and installing a new computer at the Bureau of Standards. He died unexpectedly on February 19, 1972, of a heart attack, at the age of 46.