Three South Dakota State University students, including one from Wadena, honored the widow of their benefactor on her 101st birthday Oct. 8.
Louise DeLong, the widow of Henry DeLong, welcomed Tyler Gerlach of Stickney, S.D., Austin Knutson of Volga, S.D., and Wyatt Roggenkamp of Wadena, to her Brookings, S.D. home.
Gerlach, Knutson, and Roggenkamp are recipients of the 2008-09 Henry DeLong Scholarship, which is presented to juniors in the Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Department at SDSU. This is the 37th year the department has awarded the scholarships.
The three students presented DeLong with a birthday cake and flowers, and then joined her for tea.
"Henry started the scholarship, and we've honored dozens of students over the years," DeLong said. "My son, Max, and many others continued it, and it's a pleasure to meet this year's recipients."
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Van Kelley, head of the SDSU Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, said it was great for the students to get to meet a longtime supporter of the department.
"We have a fine group of students, but Tyler, Austin, and Wyatt are truly appreciative of the support their scholarships represent, and they wanted to show Louise that appreciation," he said. "Mrs. DeLong, as an alumnae from the class of 1929, [is] one of our university's most ardent supporters."
Gerlach's future plans include service as a commissioned officer in the South Dakota Army National Guard. He plans to farm in the Stickney area after graduation.
Knutson will farm with his family near Volga upon graduation, and Roggenkamp expressed a desire to being a farmer or rancher after he completes his degree at SDSU.
