A Legacy of Excellence

Janice Warne passed away in May, 2016 after a courageous battle with cancer.  Janice will long be remembered for her generosity to the Lake Area Technical College Foundation for developing the Janice Warne Memorial Scholarship through a planned gift in her estate.

Janice was born at home in Bryant, SD on the family farm. She moved to the Hayti area and attended Opdahl Country School from first through seventh grades and then after consolidation, finished in Hayti.

Janice moved back to the Bryant area where she attended high school. After graduation she moved to Minneapolis, MN, where she attended secretarial school for 4-6 months, the schooling a gift she received from her aunt and uncle.

Janice started working at a bank and remained there for 26 years applying herself, learning new talents and moving from department to department gaining more responsibilities. She left the bank and worked through a temp agency and was offered a full-time position at a bearing company in their accounting department.  Janice worked there until family health issues arose and brought her back to Watertown, SD.  After relocating, she was employed in the office at a local plumbing/heating company.  Even after retirement, she still worked there a day or two each week.  She had a work ethic second to none.

Janice chose to name Lake Area Technical College Foundation in her estate because of the school’s reputation, and because she believed education is so important.

When asked about how she was able to provide this fund for students at Lake Area Technical College for years to come, she replied, “The one thing I did, was to learn as much as I could at each position I held at my jobs and I worked my way up through the system. I was conservative with my earnings and now I can help someone with their education.”

The Janice Warne Memorial Scholarship will provide annual scholarships for students enrolled in the Nursing, Financial Services and Agriculture programs.