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John WallDecember 14, 1943 - July 18, 2014
NDCTE President, 1999-2001 |
John was born at Enderlin, ND on December 14, 1943, the second son of Edward "Cap" and Lillian (Arntson) Wall. He grew up on the family ranch bordering the Sheyenne National Grasslands east of Lisbon, ND. He received the first eight years of his education at Shenford #5, a one room rural school near the ranch and graduated from Lisbon High School in 1961. In his youth, John was very involved in 4-H, FFA, amateur baseball, and wrestled for three years on Lisbon's first wrestling team.
After graduating from high school, John operated the family ranch for six years before continuing his education at Valley City State College. He graduated from Valley City in 1970 with a double major in English and history. While in college, John was involved in the publication of the Viking News, the college newspaper.
While attending college, John met the love of his life, Margaret Laber and they were married on August 18, 1973. To this union two children lived to adulthood, daughter, Autumn (Travis) Bennett, Walhalla, ND and son Jed Wall, Wahpeton, ND.
In 1970, John began his teaching career teaching English and journalism at Sargent Central High School at Forman, ND. After four years, John accepted a job teaching English and journalism at Wahpeton where he spent the next 30 years teaching. John always felt he was a lucky individual to be able to spend much of his working life with the many wonderful students he had the opportunity to teach. In addition to his teaching, John spent several summers in graduate school and earned his master's degree in English from NDSU in 1976.
John retired from his 34 year career in education in 2004 and in the same year was elected to the North Dakota House of Representatives, a seat he held until the present date. His lifelong interest in agriculture and history led him to become very involved in the early restoration of the Bagg Bonanza Farm. As the founding president of the Bagg Bonanza Farm Historic Preservation Society, he was especially pleased when this important historic site received National Landmark status in 2005.
John's interest in literature and all things North Dakota prompted him to create and market a series of filmstrips and videos which dealt with North Dakota's literary heritage. This project allowed him to meet and record many of the state's premier writers such as Louis L'Amour. As a result of the project, John spent two years travelling the state discussing the state's literary heritage as part of the North Dakota Humanities Council Speaker's Bureau.
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Nominating Information
This $500 student scholarship is awarded to a student who shows great promise in his or her pursuit of a career as a creative artist.
Criteria for applicant:
Submissions MUST include:
The letter should discuss the following:
Direct any questions to: [email protected], Attn: Member-At-Large for NDCTE Board |
2023 John Wall Winners
Arianna Gonzalez-Rodriguez Mandan High School Kade Ydstie West Fargo Sheyenne High School 
Past Winners
2022 Sloane McCray Hazen High School Alyssa Buckman Bowman County High School 2021 Jessica Schonhoff Northern Cass High School Vanessa Fischer Bowman County High School 2020 Sadie Bovkoon West Fargo Sheyenne High School Keona Munowenyu West Fargo Sheyenne High School 2019 Shinjini Chakraborty West Fargo Sheyenne High School 2018 Piper Sommer West Fargo Sheyenne High School 2017 Isabetta Grant |
