Karen Deske Scholarship
Karen Deske, M.S., A.T.R., was tragically killed in an auto accident on Monday, December 5, 1994. Karen was the first graduate of ISU's master's program in art therapy, receiving her degree in 1987. She became registered as an art therapist in 1992, and worked as a member of the child sexual abuse treatment team at Lutheran Social Services in Peoria. Recipient must be a graduate art therapy student in his or her second semester, or have taken 9 to 12 hours of graduate art therapy and counselor education classes. Recipient can be a traditional or non-traditional student. The award is based on exceptional academic and clinical performance, as per grades and recommendations. Assets of this endowment are invested in the Illinois State University Endowment Investment Pool. The Karen Deske Scholarship was established in December 1994 following her death. Karen was the first graduate of Illinois State University's Master in Art Therapy, receiving her degree in 1987. The Scholarship required the Recipient be a graduate art therapy student in his or her second semester or have taken 9 to 12 hours of graduate art therapy and counselor education classes. The Art Therapy program is no longer active and the criteria no longer valid. In order that the Karen Deske Scholarship would continue to be awarded, the scholarship criteria was expanded to include all graduate students majoring in Art, with a preference given to a student who has an interest in using Art to teach in some capacity.