Crazy Horse Sculptor's Dream Begins To Come True

 Korzack Ziolkowski's dream of a University at the bottom of the Crazy Horse sculpture in South Dakota has started to come true.  He had envisioned a university aimed at Native American students that would offer both traditional studies as well as Native American studies. Almost 27 years to the day after Korczak Ziolkowski's death, this layer of his plan for the Crazy Horse Memorial is unfolding. The site of his monumental sculpture is becoming a satellite educational affiliate of the University of South Dakota.

The program will start next summer, with college prep classes and freshman-level college courses, including English, math and Native American cultural classes. USD will hire special faculty, write curriculum, and teach primarily Native American students. Indian enrollment in college still is the lowest of any demographic group, and degree completion is about half that of the national average.

All of this progress pleases the sculptors widow, Ruth Ziolkowski. She is president and CEO of Crazy Horse Memorial. She said education was part of the couple's vision for the monument from the beginning, and the couple had been awarding Native American scholarships since 1978. USD will benefit, too, and what better place to teach Native American studies than at this site dedicated to remembering tribal history. It sits in the heart of the Black Hills, which is also sacred to many tribal traditions.

 Generous donations from from South Dakota resident and philanthropist T. Denny Sanford among others will pay for construction costs of a learning center complete with classrooms and a residence hall.

  While this program is a great thing for both for the memorial and USD, above all else it will be a great tool in building Native American students' success!

C):-)

To learn more about the Crazy Horse Memorial, visit the website:

http://www.crazyhorsememorial.org/

 Crazy Horse Memorial as seen through the studio window.

 A view of what the campus might look like in years to come.

Portrait of Korzack Ziolkowski.