Bill "Steve" Stephenson Memorial Scholarship

Eligibility: All
Area of Interest: Athletic

Criteria:

The recipients may be in any athletic sport and must meet NCAA eligibility standards.

Verne Lewellen and his best friend, Bill Stephensen, were graduates of Minatare High School and members of state champion track and football teams. Both were urged to attend CSC by legendary coach Ross Armstrong and looked forward to attending, but with the onset of World War II both became staff sargents in the 16th armored (tank) division serving from Camp Chaffee, Ariz., to Fort Knox, Ky., and on to Europe to France, Belgium, Austria, Germany and Czechoslovakia. Upon discharge, they came to CSC to join athletic programs which were very successful. Both went into coaching and teaching. Verne had a state champion basketball team at Chadron High School and became a school superintendent at Rushville (five years) and Mitchell (18 years). Bill had state champions in both Rushville and Cambridge. Both established scholarships at CSC and at schools for which they served: Hay Springs, Chadron High, Rushville, Mitchell, Cambridge and Lincoln Southeast. Both were selected to the Athletic Hall of Fame at CSC and Verne to the CSC outstanding graduates group.