We are a non-profit foundation in memory of our amazing and beautiful Kenadi Jean who passed away unexpectedly at 5 1/2 years old. Today is one day closer ...

Scholarship

Help for Special Education Majors

What most people don’t realize about Kenadi’s teacher, Miss Betty, is that she is an Angel disguised as an ordinary Special Education Teacher.  Together they laughed, they cried, and they worked harder than you ever would have thought they could.  Miss Betty’s heart is full and her mind packed with memories of how she changed Kenadi’s life… or perhaps how Kenadi changed hers.

Miss Betty inspired us to establish the perpetual Kenadi Jean Weis Memorial Scholarship, so that a student with special needs has the opportunity to learn from someone who inspires and encourages them to achieve success inside and outside the classroom.

The Kenadi Jean Weis Memorial Scholarship is awarded each year to a BHSU student majoring in Special Education, as well as the Kenadi Jean Weis Athletic Memorial Scholarship that will be awarded annually to a Yellow Jacket student athlete.

2022-2023 Scholarships Awarded

25 Sep 2022
It was such a pleasure meeting the recipients of our two scholarships at the Scholarship Donor Celebration today.  Hartly Thorington received the Kenadi Jean Weis Memorial Endowment Scholarship and Dylon Case was the recipient of the Kenadi Jean Weis Athletic Memorial Endowment Scholarship. Hartly is a Dean’s List student at Black Hills State University majoring in Special Education, Head Chair of the Future Teachers Association and excited to complete her college career and pursue teaching children with special needs. Dylon is a BHSU student athlete majoring in Special Education and playing outside linebacker for the Yellow Jackets football team before...
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8th Annual Kenadi Jean Weis Memorial Scholarship Awarded

15 Jul 2022
We are honored to award Black Hills State University Special Education major, Hartly Thorington the Kenadi Jean Weis Memorial Scholarship for the 2022-2023 school year. Hartly is from Powell, Wyoming, a Dean’s List student at BHSU, Head Chair of the Future Teachers Association and dreams of being a Special Education teacher.  Her younger brother, who has special needs, was the motivation behind this decision.  She said that witnessing the positive influence he had on fellow students in school compelled her to want to help others like him. Our recipient is excited to finish her college career at Black Hills State...
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Butterflies and Bees, teaming up to transform lives!

13 Dec 2021
On Friday, December 10, 2021 the Kenadi Jean Weis Foundation established two new scholarships at Black Hills State University: The Kenadi Jean Weis Athletic Memorial Scholarship that will be awarded annually to a Yellow Jacket student athlete, and the Kenadi Jean Weis Memorial Scholarship that will be awarded each year to a BHSU student majoring in Special Education. Pictured are Padraic McMeel, BHSU Athletic Director, Lori Deibert and Kelly Weis-Schultz from the Kenadi Jean Weis Foundation, Steve Meeker, BHSU Vice President for University Advancement, Kannan, Kirby, and Kohen Schultz.

7th Annual Kenadi Jean Weis Memorial Scholarship Awarded

07 May 2021
The Kenadi Jean Weis Foundation rounded up BHSU senior Dalton Magilke as their 2021-2022 Kenadi Jean Weis Memorial Scholarship champion. Dalton was raised on a ranch in rural North Dakota where he developed hard-working qualities and a love for the cowboy lifestyle.  At Black Hills State University, he is a Phi Theta Kappa Dean’s List student who is on the Rodeo Team competing all across the Midwest. Dalton and his young horse Po ended up just one spot away from qualifying for the CNFR. The Yellow Jackets most recently finished their season at the Cyclone Stampede in Ames Iowa where...
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6th Annual Kenadi Jean Weis Memorial Scholarship Awarded

10 Mar 2021
The Kenadi Jean Weis Foundation would like to congratulate Callie Flemming as the recipient of our 6th annual Kenadi Jean Memorial Scholarship at Black Hills State University. Callie is from the farming community of Florence, South Dakota originally, but calls Sturgis, SD her current home.  She attends Black Hills State University and is a Kappa Delta Pi who is an outdoor enthusiast active in basketball, volleyball, track, ultimate frisbee, archery, theater, FFA and 4-H.  Callie testifies to live is Christ, volunteers for Special Olympics and works at Game Fish & Parks Outdoor Campus-West in Rapid City, SD. Due to first-hand...
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5th Annual Kenadi Jean Weis Memorial Scholarship Awarded

10 Feb 2020
The Kenadi Jean Weis Foundation is proud to announce Black Hills State University student Kristi Maxfield as their 2019 Kenadi Jean Weis Memorial Scholarship winner. The Scholarship was created in memory of Kenadi Jean Weis who suffered an anoxic brain injury at birth and passed away unexpectedly at age five in March of 2014.  Kenadi loved learning new things at school, but it was her grandest wish that you knew she was just a little girl who wanted to be included and loved.  Her teacher Miss Betty made sure of this! BHSU Early Childhood Special Education major, Kristi Maxfield is...
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4th Annual Kenadi Jean Weis Memorial Scholarship Awarded

29 Jan 2019
The Kenadi Jean Weis Foundation Scholarship Board selected Kendall O’Hara as their 4th annual Kenadi Jean Weis Memorial Scholarship winner. Kendall is a third-year student at BHSU, double majoring in Elementary and Special Education.  She is from Dickinson, North Dakota, where she graduated from Dickinson High School with honors.  She is an athlete, a Dean’s List student, on board to assist with the BHSU Elementary Reading Program, was engaged with YJ Friends, and works as a server at Lucky’s 13 Pub. In her free time, Kendall enjoys any outdoor activity, especially hiking and snowboarding.  When not appreciating the great outdoors,...
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3rd Annual Kenadi Jean Weis Memorial Scholarship Awarded

22 May 2017
The perpetual Kenadi Jean Weis Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually to a graduating Black Hills State University Senior majoring in Special Education.  This year’s deserving recipient was Amanda Kaye Christensen! Amanda is a native of Truth or Consequences, New Mexico where her family ran a bait and tackle shop, her Aunt was a Special Education teacher and she and her sister competed for the title of Miss Fiesta at the Hot Springs Festival. On a fishing trip to the area lakes in the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota, Amanda knew she was home.  She began working as a paraprofessional...
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2nd Annual Kenadi Jean Weis Memorial Scholarship Awarded

19 Sep 2016
The Kenadi Jean Weis Foundation members were tickled pink (and green & gold) to award Gabrielle Haefs as their second annual Kenadi Jean Weis Memorial Scholarship recipient. Gabby hails from Rapid City, South Dakota and is a Black Hills State University senior majoring in Elementary Education, with an emphasis on inclusion of students with disabilities into general education classrooms.  She is a Dean’s List Student and active on the Women’s Basketball Team.   Gabby volunteers her time at Love, Inc; Special Olympics ant the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Her career objective is to be the absolute best elementary teacher she...
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Kenadi Jean Weis Foundation awards inaugural BHSU Scholarship

09 Feb 2015
This year the Kenadi Jean Weis Memorial Scholarship was established at Black Hills State University and their inaugural recipient was just chosen.  Through an application and selection process by the foundation and a University professor, the scholarship is awarded annually to a graduating senior majoring in the Special Education Program. The scholarship was created in honor of Kenadi who passed away last year.  She was a smart, beautiful and determined five-year-old girl who suffered an anoxic brain injury at birth.  Although she was non-verbal and confined to a wheelchair she revealed unique ways to communicate many things.  Miss Betty, Kenadi’s...
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BHSU Special Ed Student receives Inaugural Scholarship from
Kenadi Jean Weis Foundation

 

Drake awarded inaugural KJWF scholarship

 

BHSU hosts “Hot Pink Out” basketball night in partnership with
Kenadi Jean Weis Foundation

 

 

 

Respite Care

The Kenadi Jean Weis Foundation has partnered with the Black Hills Family Support Coordinator and the Black Hills State University Special Education Program to find suitable caregivers for families who desire a Respite Care provider. Because, sometimes the most challenging part of Respite Care is finding someone willing and qualified to help.

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