“Learn to Be Someone” Now before Kay came to the Schallenkamp name CHORUS: What happened then is that Kay married Ken CHORUS: Now if you ask real nice for a little advice CHORUS: Kay Schallenkamp was born December 9, 1949, in Salem, South Dakota, right smack in the middle of seven children. Her six siblings include three brothers and three sisters. Her childhood was spent on her family farm in Salem where she first learned the value of hard work. This strong work ethic has defined her throughout her entire life. She also learned the value of family time, and many of her memories revolve around family gatherings, holidays, and most especially, birthdays. Kay followed the rules and wasn’t a trouble maker, except for the time she and her friends snuck out and drove to a neighboring town to make it clear to the girls of that town that they were not to talk to the Salem boys! As she grew up, her path would change many times and lead her to many different places. When she graduated from high school in 1968, she went to Northern State University where she studied to become a speech pathologist. However, fate would take her on a different road. Instead, she became a professor at Northern State. After a few years, she was asked to be the department chair and eventually she became the dean of graduate studies and research. It was not by chance that she was asked to continue to move up the ranks. She had a strong work ethic and lived by her own motto. “If you are going to skate on thin ice, you might as well dance.” After becoming the dean, she moved on to be provost at Chadron State College and then provost at University of Wisconsin -Whitewater. On August 1, 1997, she became the President of Emporia State University in Kansas making her the first woman to head a Kansas Board of Regents School. After many years at Emporia, she went on to become the 9th president of Black Hills State University, and the University’s first woman president. During her time at BHSU, she oversaw many changes including increased enrollment and graduation rates, new academic programs, and increased funding in several areas. Kay also helped build partnerships with various communities including partnering BHSU with the Sanford Research Lab, and she received an honorary doctorate, Doctor of Public Service, in 2014, for her work at BHSU. She was instrumental in establishing the regrowth of our BHSU rodeo team and she hired the first BHSU rodeo coach in history. Kay was also one of ten presidents around the country to serve on the Division II Presidential Council as BHSU transitioned from NAIA to Division II athletics. Kay has many achievements in her career and has received numerous awards, honors, and distinctions, which include being appointed to the South Dakota Board of Education by Governor Dennis Daugaard, having a residence hall named in her honor at Emporia State University, and having the amphitheater dedicated in honor of both her and her husband, Ken, here at Black Hills State University. What Kay is most proud of, however, is her family. She and her husband Ken met in 8th grade, started dating in high school, and this coming year, they will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary! They like to travel and have been to a variety of different countries. They also like to stay involved in their community and have many contributions of their time and effort to several organizations around Spearfish. Together they have two daughters, Heather and Jenni, who have followed in their parents’ footsteps as educators in Kansas and North Carolina. Kay says that watching her daughters grow into becoming successful educators and wonderful parents to her four grandchildren has been her biggest accomplishment. Dr. Schellankamp retired in 2014 but continues to travel with her husband, visit her grandchildren, stay involved in various community organizations and BHSU functions, and of course, follow her favorite sports teams. When asked how she wants to be remembered, Kay said she wants to be remembered for being a good person and for making a difference. We believe that Kay Schallenkemp has achieved both!
Words and music by Leonard Running
with Mrs. Reiners’ 5th Grader Class
©2019 Leonard Running
She was a country girl out east.
Between the family and the farm and the high school’s charm
She had a good childhood at least.
And it wasn’t too bad if her folks got mad
Because their discipline was not too hard:
Her mom could be heard in a soft-spoken word
And her dad bought her an ugly car.
Work hard, have fun;
Find your place in the sun.
Do the job till it’s done;
Learn to be someone.
It’s been a great five-decade trip
And two daughters (now adults) are the natural results
Of a loving partnership.
Yet with all the responsibility
Kay could still find room for more.
With the passing years, her path became clear
And she knew what she was aiming for.
Work hard, have fun;
Find your place in the sun.
Do the job till it’s done;
Learn to be someone
From a BH president:
Kay might say her success is to just say yes
When someone else might be hesitant.
And when we take the lead, there’s no want or need
For being right or being strong.
We just GIVE control to the highest goal
And we sing this little song.
Work hard, have fun;
Find your place in the sun.
Do the job till it’s done;
Learn to be someone