Distinguished alumni

Joyce (Beukelman ’57) Wrage Distinguished Service to Humankind

A former grade school teacher, Joyce spent 30 years as the children’s librarian for the Brookings, South Dakota, Public Library. During that time, she helped write a statewide summer reading program for South Dakota’s centennial and developed the state’s annual children’s reading awards. She was also involved in the establishment of an after-school program in Brookings and served on its board for nearly 20 years. Joyce developed children’s activities for the Center for Hope in Sioux Falls, chaired the Salvation Army’s Brookings unit, and was involved in ministries, organizations and events that included Project Joy, Share the Warmth, Loads of Faith, My Neighbor, the $10 Club, United Way and the Brookings Foundation Board. She is active in Faith Reformed Church, where she was an elder and director of children’s education.

Award year: 2022