Missouri Basketweavers Guild - Roger Curry Scholarships

Scholarships

The Missouri Basketweavers Guild in recognition of the contribution and dedication to basket weaving offers scholarships in honor of Roger Curry and the Founding Members.

Roger Curry Scholarship

Roger was born into a long line of basket makers tracing his roots back to Christopher Columbus Gibson who started weaving this distinct style of oak baskets in the 1840s. Roger would fell the trees, split them, carve handles and rims, and pull weavers and uprights – a very labor-intensive process!

In the late 1970s, Roger and his wife Betty, were asked to teach at the Christianson Native Crafts Workshop in Shannondale, where they were told to anticipate about 20 students in their class. Instead, 70 students signed up for their class – a daunting excess which they somehow managed to get through. Shortly after, they were asked to teach a class in Clarksville, MO. Thus, launched a new direction for them – teaching workshops.

As a Missouri craftsman, Roger shared and continued a tradition of basket making throughout much of his life. It is an honor for the Missouri Basketweavers Guild to present the Roger Curry Scholarships at the annual convention to first time and returning attendees in the amount of the convention's registration fee.

Year	First Time Attendees	Returning Attendees
2007	Yvonne Fahringer	Jeanie Dresslaer Smith
2006	Shirley Bowers	Bonnie Schreckengast
2005	Lynn Elbert Marsha Foster	Susan High Shalon McPhee
2004	Amy Hamilton Debra Mann	Beth Proctor Carolyn Slaughter
2003	Jean Fisher Jane Rundlett	Karen Ferbezar Bev Larson
2002	Mary McKinzie Diane Wilson	Vicki Arnett Judy Yeages
1998	Janet Dillman Rita Nardin Jennifer Miller	Doris Hynes Gloria Little
1997	Beth Babb Candy Reed	Nicki Janczak Sandy Schmidt Cindy Smith
1996*		Marjorie Bretzler

* The Roger Curry Scholarship was established in 1995 and originally set up to give one attendee paid registration to the next annual convention. Marjorie Bretzler was the scholarship winner in 1995 for the 1996 convention. The following year awards were given for first timer and returning attendees for the current convention registration

** We are searching for the names of Curry Scholarship winners for the years 1999 and 2000. If you know the names of any winners for these years, please contact

Founding Members Memorial Scholarship

In 2005 the guild established the Founding Members Memorial Scholarship to honor dedicated founding members who have passed away. Each year at the annual convention, two scholarships winners are selected from the general membership to receive the convention registration fee for the next annual convention. From 2005 to the present, the scholarship is in honor of Ann Clark.

Ann Clark (aka "Apple Annie") found solace in basket weaving after the death of her son. She made her first basket in 1980 in a white oak tree-to-basket class with Roger and Betty Curry. From then on, she was hooked. Her favorite weaving material was white oak and naturals. Ann became close friends with Roger and Betty Curry, and for several years, she traveled with them and helped teach their classes.

Ann was a founding member of the Woven Circle guild and was instrumental in joining forces with members from the St. Louis Missouri Basketweavers Chapter to form what we know today as the Missouri Basketweavers Guild. At the first state meeting in Hannibal, Missouri in June 1991, she was elected as the first Missouri Basketweavers Guild president. Ann decided Missourians needed a basket weaving convention; a feat that some said could not be done. She sought guidance from members of the Indiana Basketmakers Association, and, with her great organization skills and love for basketry, she made it happen in a big way. The first annual Missouri Basket Sampler Convention was held June 13-14, 1992, in Kansas City, Missouri with 115 weavers in attendance.

Ann was enthusiastic in her love for the art of basket weaving and radiated that zest all who knew her.

Awarded In	Award Winners
2007 for 2008 Registration	Lynanne Keleher Judi Miller
2006 for 2007 Registration	Brenda McPheron Deanna Waddell
2005 for 2006 Registration	N. Louise Page Donalene Wright

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