Mark Kempenich was a selfless person who devoted much of his professional life to the Boy Scouts. A great all-around photographer, he was the president of the club from 1958– 1960.
Mark was the chairman of a downtown St. Paul event called the Spectacle of Lights, when the lights of all downtown buildings were turned on until 9 p.m. Thousands of spectators attended and photographed the event.
Following Mark Kempenich’s death in 1972, Llu Wright made a gift to the club to establish an award in Mark’s honor. The Kempenich Award was established to recognize images showing the most originality.
Perhaps Mark is best remembered for his unique ability to engage people of all ages.
This award is given for the most original print and projected image of the year.
Winner of the Mark Kempenich Award for Prints from 1973 through today
Monochrome and Color Prints
1973-1974: Art Dickey
1974-1975: Art Dickey – The Hat
1975-1976: Art Dickey – Racer
1976-1977: William Stewart – Fallen Monarch
1977-1978: Jan Smith – Nocturnal Trip
1978-1979: Joanne Smith – Frosty Lighthouse
1979-1980: Bob Berglund – Twisted Tree
1980-1981: Joanne Smith – Egret And Turtle
1981-1982: Art Dickey – Chicago Loop
1982-1983: Jim Carr – Ski Jumper
1983-1984: Art Dickey – Cowboy Joe
1984-1985: Walt Westberg – Little Henry
1985-1986: Art Dickey – Zebras
1986-1987: Art Dickey – Half And Half
1987-1988: Jim Sullivan – Rancho De Taos Church
1988-1989: Gary Eckhardt – The Thinker
1989-1990: Gene Schwope – Gooseberry Falls at Night
1990-1991: Art Dickey – Cara Mia
1991-1992: Scott Wiggins – Captain Crunch Taxi
1992-1993: Paul W. Moore – Iron Worker
1993-1994: Jack Myers – The Cover-Up
1994-1995: Art Dickey – Negative House
1995-1996: Betty K. Olson – Study In Black And White
1996-1997: Marge Ethier – Enchanted Forest
1997-1998: Marge Ethier – A Rose Is A Rose
1998-1999: Steve Kobs – Fragments
1999-2000: Marge Ethier – Iridescence
2000-2001: Marge Ethier – Flower Child
2001-2002: Radka Turcajova – The Story
2002-2003: Richard Y. Kain – Green Irish Boat
2003-2004: Pattie LaVance – Job Hunt
2004-2005: Pattie LaVance – Horse Feathers
2005-2006: Brian Gardner – Spooky Tree
2006-2007: Pattie LaVance – The Healing
2007-2008: Jeff Maanum — Pontiac Storm
2008-2009: Madelyn Stocking – Museum Meltdown
2009-2010: Tom Dunn – Time’s Taxis
2010-2011: Kysa Stocking – Overgrown Auto
2011-2012: Madelyn Stocking – Rusting in Peace
2012-2013: Gregour Beatty — High Summer
2013-2014: Bill Irish – Chair With Fruit
2014-2015: Kathy Bury – Notes Afloat
2015-2016: Sharon Berg –From Great Grandma’s Attic
2016-2017: Terry Butler – Three Pears and a Bottle
2017-2018: Peggy Boike – Christmas at Car Show
2018-2019: Kathy Bury – Follow the Hand
2019-2020: Barry Mullin — Sage Creek Gang
2020-2021: No Prints This Year
2021-2022: No Prints This Year
2022-2023:
2023-2024:
2024-2025:
2025-2026:
Slides or Projected Images
In 2005-2006 the slide category was replaced by a projected image category to include images from digital cameras.
1973-1974: Sylvia Goldman
1974-1975: Esther Larson – Mirror Reflections
1975-1976: Harriet Hedrick – Caught In The Web
1976-1977: Sylvia Goldman – Nepalese Mountain Village
1977-1978: Frances Simonovsky – Winter Pattern
1978-1979: Jan Smith – Egret
1979-1980: Joanne Smith – Jennie In The Rain
1980-1981: Robert W. Nelson – Vegetable Pattern
1981-1982: Ernest Brauer – Zoom City
1982-1983: Nancy Hansen – Morning Flood
1983-1984: Morris Gildemeister – Minneapolis
1984-1985: Nancy Hansen – Ghost Town Sunset
1985-1986: Harold Hawkins – Two Doors
1986-1987: Elinor Walstrom – Single Shanty
1987-1988: Florence Nelson – Reflections In the Pond
1988-1989: Herb Gustafson–Courthouse Reflection #2
1989-1990: Betty K. Olson – Blue Moon
1990-1991: Stuart Dittbrenner – Anonymous Composer
1991-1992: George Hedrick – Glass Pattern
1992-1993: Robert W. Nelson – Five Blue Jeans
1993-1994: Morris Gildemeister – Hood Motion
1994-1995: Gene Schwope – Rice Park Fantasy
1995-1996: Kathy Savage – Black Light Tabletop
1996-1997: Harold Hawkins – Wood Grain Eyes
1997-1998: Dave Schulte – Get A Grip
1998-1999: Marge Ethier – Flower Child
1999-2000: Robert W. Nelson – Musical Hands
2000-2001: Radka Turcajova – Stripes
2001-2002: Marge Ethier – Leaves Of Grass
2002-2003: Marge Ethier – Photographer On Drugs
2003-2004: Pat Schwope – Scandia Barn, Fall #2
2004-2005: Jim Duncan – Glowing Calla Lily #1
2005-2006: “Radka Tezaur — Running In A Puddle
2006-2007: Tom Dunn – Dali #1
2007-2008: Dave Schulte — Butterfly
2008-2009: Colleen McGuire – Junkyard Guitars
2009-2010: John Nutzman – Blue Drop
2010-2011: Gene Schwope – Brooklyn Bridge at Sundown
2011-2012: Roberta Mullin – Ghostly Leaves
2012-2013: Herb Gustafson – Boat House Reflection
2013-2014: Morris Gildemeister – Lucky Driver
2014-2015: Roberta Mullin – Arboretum Tulips
2015-2016: Larry Swistoski – Dubai: Looking Down From The Tallest Building In The World
2016-2017: Larry Swistoski – Light Painting
2017-2018: Jim Duncan – Lady Bug And Roses
2018-2019: Richard Birger – Picasso Face
2019-2020: Richard Birger – Hand Me The Olives
2020-2021: Steven Richardson — Self Portrait
2021-2022: Ken Epstein – Unsuccessful Attempt
2022-2023:
2023-2024:
2024-2025:
2025-2026: