Projects

Terry Beck Scholarship Exceeds Fundraising Goal

KCFA is pleased to announce that fundraising for the Terry Beck Protective Services Scholarship has exceeded the original goal of $15,000.  Subsequently, KCFA President Jan Holewsinski and Treasurer Mabel Schumacher recently presented a check for $20,000 to Sue Hartwick, executive director of the Fort Atkinson Community Foundation, to fund the inaugural scholarship!

The scholarship was established in memory of Fort Atkinson’s Terry Beck, a Marine Scout Dog Handler killed in action along with his K-9 partner, Seato, while serving in Vietnam.

To learn more about this new scholarship for students going into protective services fields, check out these local news articles:

Daily Jefferson County Union:

Kennel Club of Fort exceeds Terry Beck Protective Services Scholarship fund goal | Fort Atkinson | dailyunion.com

FortAtkinsonOnline.com:

Fort scholarship formed in memory of Marine K-9 handler Beck – FortAtkinsonOnline.com (Fort Atkinson Online LLC)

Scholarship criteria and guidelines are available at the Fort Atkinson Community Foundation’s website:

Guidelines (fortfoundation.org)

Marine Terry Beck Scholarship Announced at K9 Veterans Day Virtual Event

Marine Terry Beck and K9 Seato

As part of the 2021 K9 Veterans Day ceremony , The Kennel Club of Fort Atkinson, Inc. (KCFA) announced the creation of a scholarship in memory of Marine Scout Dog Handler Terry Beck.   Beck was an 18-year-old Fort Atkinson resident killed in action with his K9 partner, Seato, in Vietnam in December 1967.

This scholarship, in recognition of Terry Beck’s passion to protect and serve his country and its citizens, will offer financial support to Fort Atkinson High School graduates who plan to enter the field of protective services.

A fundraising campaign has been launched in support of this scholarship, with a goal of $15,000 to be raised by September 1, 2021.

Contributions may be sent to:  KCFA – Terry Beck Scholarship, c/o Mabel Schumacher, Treasurer, 848 Messmer Street, Fort Atkinson, WI, 53538.  Checks should be made payable to “KCFA – Terry Beck Scholarship.”

The KCFA has been honoring K9s and their handlers for the past several years, working to establish March 13th as Wisconsin’s K9 Veterans Day, and hosting annual celebrations of the event.  Due to the pandemic, this year’s recognition was held virtually, honoring seventeen K9s.   The Marine Terry Beck Protective Services Scholarship was announced at the event, with speakers including Mabel Schumacher, KCFA Treasurer;  Gary Wolfram, a friend of Terry Beck’s; and Army Veteran Richard Miles.

Please visit https://youtube/qmLIeCK3pWE to view the 2021 K9 Veterans Day Virtual Event video (approximately 17 minutes in length).

For more details about the Marine Terry Beck Scholarship, please follow these links:

Fundraising Brochure Terry Beck Scholarship

Fundraising Letter Terry Beck Scholarship

Press Release Terry Beck Scholarship

We hope you will consider making a donation in support of this scholarship, established in memory of Terry Beck and Seato, and the ultimate sacrifice they made.  Thank you!

Related pages:

Coverage of K9 Veterans Day Virtual Event and Scholarship Announcement by FortAtkinsonOnline.com

Daily Jefferson County Union article 2021 03 Mar 15-1

K9 Veterans Day  K9 Veterans Day is officially observed on March 13th in Wisconsin.

K9 Veterans Memorial  The K9 Veterans Memorial at McCoy Park, Fort Atkinson, honors all working K9s and features Marine Terry Beck and Seato.

Project Lead XXXII – Making Fort Atkinson Even More Dog-Friendly

The Project Lead XXXII group overcame many obstacles in completing their goal to make Fort Atkinson even more dog-friendly.  KCFA member Heather Traxler was an integral part of the 2020 Project Lead team. As a result of the group’s efforts, dogs and their people can now quench their thirst, rest their legs, and find pick-up bags as well as essential training tips, in many additional locations around town.

The Daily Jefferson County Union ran an extensive article with many photos:  Project Lead DU article 7.30.20 

KCFA publicly congratulated the 2020 Project Lead group with a letter to the editor:  Ltr to DU editor re Project Lead 7.29.20

Please “Like” our K9 Veterans’ Day Facebook Page

We have started a Facebook page dedicated to the efforts of declaring March 13th National K9 Veterans’ Day.

Please click “Like” on our page to support the cause and follow our progress!

https://www.facebook.com/NationalK9VeteransDay

While you’re at it… Please don’t forget to sign our petition for national recognition of K9 Veterans’ Day!

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/national-k9-veterans-day.html

K9 Veterans' Day Flag