Four Honored by Foundation
May 03, 2022
Carol Cook Geu has spent her life helping people appreciate the role the arts play in their lives. She is currently a Senior Lecturer at the University of South Dakota (USD). In addition, she is an accomplished artist. Her piece, "Vermillion Sunset No. 1," wool, 2020 is now in the South Dakota Art Museum.
Carol has been a member of the faculty at the University of South Dakota for 30 years and was recently recognized for her outstanding teaching as a recipient of the USD Lambda Chi Teaching Award.
Carol teaches introductory art history courses online and facilitates faculty-led study tours. Her innovative courses include an exploration of video games as art and a study of graphic novels as a continuation of the visual storytelling narrative. She has worked to be innovative in ways that benefit student learning. Over the course of her career, she has published 18 courses. In 2002, she was one of the first faculty members to offer an online course. In 2007 she offered one of the first faculty-led programs with a study tour to Italy.
Introductory Art History courses provide the opportunity to build an audience and advocate for the arts. Most students who take Geu’s courses will not become art majors. They will, however, become parents, farmers, scientists, doctors, lawyers, civic leaders, city council and school board members as well as art patrons. They will all understand and value the importance of creativity and thinking outside the box.
She was the driving force in bringing Scholastic Art and Writing Awards to the state of South Dakota. As the coordinator of the South Dakota Affiliate for the Scholastic Art Awards, Cook organizes one of the art department’s student recruitment efforts. One of the most important aspects of the Award is the Reception and Award Ceremony. This celebration of the students’ achievements gives USD the opportunity to promote the arts and their impact on students' lives and careers to the parents and other family members present.
Carol Cook-Geu graduated from Beatrice High School in 1978.
Soon after WWII began Margaret Brewster enlisted in the Women’s Army Corps joining her three brothers in the service. She remained in the Corps when it became part of the regular Army in 1943.
Margo said, “My most memorable experience was being of the eight WACs to serve in India during WWII. I served in New Delhi and then in Kandy, Ceylon, with a US/UK command, the Southeast Asia Command, and was led by Admiral (Lord) Louis Mountbatten, Navy, United Kingdom. She also remembered serving with the Secretary of the General Staff, Headquarters Seventh Army, during the German Occupation.”
She was among the first group of 200 women officers selected for entry in the Regular Army and remained in various positions of increasing responsibility until her retirement in 1965 from the position of Deputy Chief of Foreign Military Training Division in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Military Operations (DCSOPS) at the Pentagon. She was a graduate of the Army Command and General Staff College, and her decorations and awards include the Legion of Merit, Army Commendation Medal, Army Occupation Medal (Germany), General Staff Officer Identification Badge, and Asiatic Campaign Ribbon.
Margo attended Columbia College in Missouri and graduated from the University of Missouri. She received her master's degree in psychology and education from the University of Michigan. She was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. Upon graduation she began her career as an instructor of physical education at Michigan State Normal College in Ypsilanti, and at Indiana University.
One of her favorite stories to tell throughout her life was about another BEF Hall of Famer, Robert Taylor. She went to school with Spangler Arlington Brugh, the boy who later became the movie star, Robert Taylor (who, she delightedly recalls, gave her her very first kiss).
Margaret Brewster graduated from Beatrice High School in 1930. Special thanks to the Gage County Historical Society for the use of the photograph.
Terry Brethouwer began his career at the oldest building in the district, a building that served as a high school then a junior high and was torn down in the early 2000s. This experience gave him the skills to maintain both new and old buildings when he become the head of the maintenance department for Beatrice Public Schools. He took pride in making sure each building was ready for both students and staff. He also made sure the grounds were immaculate.
Terry Brethowuwer was the embodiment of dedication and commitment to his career. “There was never a task that Terry could not accomplish, no matter how big or small, he could always be depended on to do what was needed,” said Superintendent Jason Alexander. “In his 38 years of managing the people that worked for him, he was always able to convince those around him to keep the focus on the most important thing....the kids!” said Alexander. The buildings were always well kept and safe for students, staff, and the public.
He was also responsible for making sure students were transported safely to athletic events, music competitions, and field trips. If a person had a need or request he did his best to fulfill that.
Terry was instrumental in helping the Foundation meet the additional requirements in buildings for obtaining a license with the Department of Health and Human Services for its afterschool program. In addition, he helped turn a girls’ locker room into office space for the Beatrice Educational Foundation office space.
Terry was asked to sometimes be a miracle worker when it came to turning buildings built before online was even an idea and making them capable of maintaining the technology needed in a 21st-century classroom. He did this with a smile, most of the time.
Terry worked for Beatrice Public Schools from March 28, 1983, to April 30, 2021.
Gary Langford spent 32 of his 37 years in education in a business classroom at Beatrice High School. In addition to teaching, he also coached basketball and tennis. He received nominations from both students and colleagues. All mentioned the respect he had for both students and teachers and, in return, he was respected by them.
Three students who have had successful careers because of Gary’s influence were John Mack, Patty Kaufman, and Rhonda (Vrtiska) Casey. They illustrate the influence he had on students.
John Mack has enjoyed a long and rewarding career in International Logistics, primarily with large corporations. “The BHS Business Classes and Accounting Classes were among the few subjects I was truly interested in. That was when the educational “light came on for me,” said Mack.
He said he learned a lot about preparation and personal responsibility in Gary’s classes. “That carried over to my college education and on to professional positions ever since,” said Mack.
Gary was Patty Kaufman’s favorite teacher and mentor. “I am what I am today because of him. In my junior year I was in his accounting class and he said to me, ‘you are really good at this, you should go to college and be an accountant.’” Kaufman said, “No one in my family had gone to college and I was poor. I didn’t have that intention at all but because Mr. Langford said it, I did it.” She has enjoyed a 30-year career in finance.
Rhonda Casey remembers how he made her feel each time she walked into his classroom. “Mr. Langford was one of my favorite teachers as well and one of the reasons I have been in the accounting/financial world too! He was always waiting for us at the door and had a smile or a joke and made each of us feel like we were his favorite student. That takes a special person,” said Casey.
For a teacher, there is no better reward than to know you have made a difference in a student’s life. Gary Langford through his efforts made a profound impact on the life of his students. He treated all with respect and was sincere in his efforts to make sure they all succeeded.