This award is presented to a mature Academic Upgrading (formerly Adult Basic Education) Student, with first priority to a Grand Forks area student. The student will be entering the Social Services Worker Program as their first choice of program or as a second choice any other program in the Human Services Department at Selkirk College.
William Richard Guy
William Richard Guy was born June 8, 1944 in Waterloo, Iowa. Although at an early age he and his mother moved to Kansas City, he continued to spend summers in Iowa where he fished the rivers and ran through the cornfields. His appreciation for small communities began in these years.
In Kansas City, he was a single child raised by a single parent. Looking back at this time with the eyes of an adult, he mused about how he really lived the concept "that it takes a community to raise a child". His mother had to work long hours and so it was the neighbourhood in the true sense of the word that helped him stay out of mischief.
Bill Guy was not a man afraid of taking risks. His paths were diverse and many. During his tours in the United States Army, he was trained in strategic communications with top secret clearance. He spent years in Vietnam, Thailand, and the Pentagon in Washington D.C. He was a AM radio disc jockey, worked in reforestation and ran his own roofing business. In 1991 at the age of 47, he decided to return to school after 30 years and become a Social Service Worker.
His time spent at Selkirk College was challenging and intense. He seriously focused on his own personal growth and began to understand how to help others meet their own challenges in life. With these new found skills, he returned to Grand Forks to do five years of excellent work for Boundary Family and Individual Services Society and Selkirk College, Grand Forks Campus.
Bill brought to his positions a vast mosaic of life experiences. He was compassionate and respectful to all his clients. He had an ability to help people see their potential and work towards their goals while navigating through their own life pitfalls. Because of his big, 6'4" frame, his large laugh, and his soft, yet "manly" demeanor, he was able to be the rock for children, youth, and adults in his neighbourhood, his own small community. He was deeply respected and loved.
Bill became sick in 1993. His illnesses were many and serious. Throughout this part of his life he showed only strength, calm, and dignity. He spent the last year and a half carving beautiful wooden masks, meditating, fishing, contemplating, telling stories and opening his heart up to the love that he shared with so many. He died at home on November 16, 1998.
Bill Guy was survived by his wife of 24 years, Leora Gesser, and five children, Travestine, Richard, Shoshana, Sol and Jayda Mae, six grandchildren, his friend of many years, Bobbie Ogletree, and his canine companion, Neysa.
Bill knew that a memorial scholarship at Selkirk College would be set up in his name when he died. He thought that the idea was wonderful and was pleased that his memory would be linked to something so positive. This scholarship proudly displays a true testimony to the appreciation of this man.