So many people were so generous with memorial money.  It touched our hearts more than people can ever know - not because of the monetary amount they gave, but because it helped us realize we would be able to do some good things to help Jake's memory live on.  That gave us much courage to go on in those early weeks.

The Jacob W. Dreier Memorial Scholarship

One of the very first things we wanted to do was establish a memorial scholarship, and we wanted the first recipient to be from Jake's own class, The Class of 2006 of Aurelia High.  It was very important to us that this be available to a graduating student based on artistic and creative abilities, more than GPA.  Jake, not your 4.0 kind of student, would not be pleased if we didn't do it that way, I dont think!  As I wrote out my ideas for the criteria, I could imagine him saying, "Finally!  A scholarship I can qualify for!" 

We wrote up our ideas and went over them with the school guidance counselor, Ann Sandine, who was a big help.  We also talked to a banker and a lawyer to get things figured out.  The first recipient is Joe Hultgren, one of Jake's classmates and fellow art class student.  Joe is attending Iowa State University, majoring in the area of art, graphic design, and computer animation - 
Just what Jake would be doing at Morningside College today!


        
                                                                                                           
Jake spent hours working at the computer making art, graphics, and videos, using various programs that he taught himself how to use.  He usually did all this while he was also online with friends.  He loved to send them funny things he made!       

The collage is pictures from Jake's art class (Jake in the cap), friends working on finishing Jake's wall mural for him - in memorium, some of Jake's favorite art projects, and a few other memories collected up for Joe.                           

Scholarship Application - in part

Jake Dreier was a student in the class of 2006 at Aurelia High School.  He was a very creative, resourceful and imaginative person.  He was always curious about how things worked, and saw the world in unique, imaginative, and artistic ways.  Jake was impatient with most "book" learning, preferring to just "get at it."   Rather than waiting for his parents and teachers to explain how to do things as they "should" be done, he would usually observe something being done, and figure out how to do it himself.  He would not necessarily succeed in his first atempts, but he never gave up until he accomplished what  he set out to do in his own "Jakeian" way.  He had many interests, and with each one, he would immerse himself into it passionately.  He was proud of accomplishing things in his own unique way, and was willing to share that knowledge or skill with others.  He was a "non-traditional" student and he and his family woud be honored to assist other similar learners.
. . .
3.  Scholarship selection criteria
     . . . .
     C.  Preference will be given to a student majoring in one of the   
           following fields of study, or combination thereof.   
           1.  Art (studio, art education)
           2.  Graphic design (print, illustration, 2D and/or 3D animation,
                computer generated graphics, web page design)
           3.  Computer science (internet technology and/or web site 
                design, computer video making, computer programming and 
                other computer technologies, CAD/CAM)  
           4.  Photography (video production / editing, still / studio 
                photography)
      D.  Recipient will indicate / demonstrate some or all of these 
           strengths:  hands-on learning, spatial intelligence, creativity, use 
           of imagination, self-motivation, and ability for independent and 
           self-taught learning.
      E.  Other qualities considered are a willingness to try new things, 
           exploring, involved in a variety of activities with passion and 
           dedication to those activities being the emphasis rather than the 
           number of activities involved in.  Grades and GPA are not the 
           emphasis.
      F.  Recipient will describe current interests, hobbies, activities, and 
           will write a short essay describing his or her career goals.
. . . .
Looking for a well-rounded individual with a daring and spirited way of approaching life, rather than someone who fits the typical "scholarly" mode, but not to exclude any student with high grades, all other things being considered.
     
                                       
Joe Hultgren, 2006 - the first - recipient of the Jacob W. Dreier Memorial Scholarship, and Jake's parents, Laurie & Roger

We want to thank all of Jake's art teachers over the years, especially Aaron Ware, for helping him develop the talent God gave him.  Also, all of Jake's fellow art classmates - you brought out the best, and sometimes the really weird, in him!  He loved it, and he will be with you, always, to inspire and bring out the best in YOU!  Good luck in your future, Joe!

L'Envoi

When Earth's last picture is painted, and the tubes are twisted and dried,
When the oldest colors have faded, and the youngest critic has died, 
We shall rest, and, faith, we shall need it --
lie down for an aeon or two,
Till the Master of All Good Workmen shall put 
us to work anew.

And those that were good shall be happy;
they shall sit in a golden chair;
They shall splash at a ten-league canvas with
brushes of comets' hair;
They shall find real saints to draw from --
Magdalene, Peter, and Paul;
They shall work for an age at a sitting, and
never be tired at all!

And only the Master shall praise us, and only
the Master shall blame;
And no one shall work for money, and no one
shall work for fame;
But each for the joy of the working, and each,
in his separate star,
Shall draw the Thing as he sees It for the God
of Things as They Are!
                                       --  Rudyard Kipling


"Your art is as it were a grandchild of God."    -- Dante