Festival Concert Hall lobby dedicated as ‘Challey Atrium’
Alumnus Robert Challey received recognition this morning when the lobby of the Festival Concert Hall was renamed “Challey Atrium.”
Challey donated $2.15 million to fund scholarships for music students, the largest endowment the Division of Fine Arts has ever received.
The dedication ceremony took place in the Reineke Fine Arts Center.
Challey’s donation will allow incoming music students the opportunity to win even more scholarships.
The department expects the amount of recipients to jump from 20 (the number offered for the 2006-07 academic year) to 50 significant scholarships for the next year.
Kayla Johnson, a freshman music education major, received the first four-year full-tuition scholarship. She plans to use her degree to pursue a career in music education.
“ This scholarship has given me the opportunity to focus on my school completely,” Johnson said. “I can be involved in organizations and not have to worry about working on top of everything else to pay for school.”
Challey, originally from Fargo, graduated from NDSU in 1967 with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry.
Despite his science major, he participated actively in the Gold Star Marching Band as a trombonist and drum major.
He also was active in Blue Key musicals, taking the role of producer for “Oklahoma.”
Musical interest was in Challey’s family; Bill Euren, Challey’s uncle, was director of Gold Star Band from 1948-68.
“ Our family wanted to do something to help an excellent department that needed support,” Challey said.
Challey’s donation will allow the division to expand student opportunities for learning.
“ This amazing contribution gives us so much more to offer students,” John Miller, director of the Division of Fine Arts, said. “We can now offer our students the best support in the region.”
The Division of Fine Arts has an excellent facility to work with and a strong curriculum, Miller said. The faculty dynamic also gives students a wonderful learning environment.
Kayla Skunberg, a junior majoring in child and family development, said choir is a favorite class of hers even though it is not her major.
“ I love being able to take the class,” Skunberg said. “It’s a relaxing part of my day.”
Challey was elected to the NDSU Development Foundation board in 1981, receiving several prestigious awards.
Among them were the Alumni Achievement award in 1986, and the foundation’s Service Award in 2002.
“ Challey’s donation will have lasting effects on the university for years to come,” Bill Law, assistant director of the Division of Fine Arts, said. “It’s fun to see NDSU students from the past aid in the education of today’s students, passing the torch on.