2022 College of Fine Arts Hall of Fame Recipients
Sarah (Spelts) Anderberg ’78
The College of Fine Arts hosted its Celebration of Excellence event honoring outstanding alumni, educators and friends of the arts. Among the 2022 honorees was Sarah (Spelts) Anderberg ’78, recognized for her decades of leadership and innovation in arts education.
After earning her BFA as a University Scholar in Theatre Arts at the University of South Dakota, Anderberg began a 45-year career that has spanned acting, directing, teaching, administration and authorship. Her early teaching years at O’Gorman High School in Sioux Falls saw her build an award-winning theatre and speech program, earning recognition as Outstanding Young Speech Teacher of the Year. She also worked with the South Dakota 4-H program, the Black Hills Playhouse, and even coordinated a performance for President George H.W. Bush’s 1988 visit to South Dakota.
Relocating to California, Anderberg became a driving force for arts education statewide. She served as Director of the Sierra North Arts Project and later as Director of Arts Education and Professional Development at the Robert and Margrit Mondavi Performing Arts Center, where she forged partnerships with the Kennedy Center and Globe Theatre. Most recently, she led the California County Superintendents Educational Services Association (CCSESA) Statewide Arts Initiative, securing more than $11 million in arts education funding and founding the CCSESA Creativity at the Core and Rural Arts Network programs.
A founding member of the CREATE CA coalition, Anderberg helped shape arts education policy across the state and co-authored the influential book Teacher as Curator: Formative Assessment and Arts-Based Strategies. Her career reflects a lifelong belief that creativity is central to learning — a value she first developed at USD.
Gary Begeman ’80
A lifelong supporter of education and the arts, Gary Griffith ’80 was honored for his leadership, philanthropy and advocacy for music education.
Griffith earned his BFA in Music Education from the University of South Dakota before pursuing a law degree from The Ohio State University. Though his career path led him to corporate law—where he served as counsel and director for major companies—Griffith never forgot his musical roots. In 2000, he and his wife, Gail, established the Begeman/Griffith Instrumental Music Education Scholarship, which has since supported more than 140 USD students pursuing careers in music education.
A dedicated USD supporter, Griffith served on the Board of Directors of the USD Foundation, including a term as chair from 2019 to 2021. Today, he and Gail reside on their farm in Virginia, where their home is filled with music, animals and the joy of giving back. His legacy continues to inspire future generations of music educators and alumni leaders.
Lisa Dresch ’90
For more than 30 years, Lisa Dresch ’90 has inspired South Dakota students through her passion for visual arts education. A proud graduate of USD with a BFA in Painting and K–12 Art Education and a master’s in Curriculum and Instruction, Dresch has built a career rooted in creativity, compassion and community.
As a visual arts teacher at Roosevelt High School in Sioux Falls, Dresch has guided hundreds of students to success in local, regional and national competitions, including the Scholastic Art Awards and the Youth Art Month competition. Her classroom is a haven of encouragement, complete with her signature “Dresch Diner,” where she provides snacks, art supplies and affirmations for students in need.
Named the 2020 South Dakota Art Educator of the Year, Dresch is also co-author of Native American Master Artist: Oscar Howe, the official South Dakota selection for the Library of Congress Festival of Books. A founding Visual Arts Curator for the Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science, she has championed art access for all ages through community collaborations and youth programs.
Her energy, empathy and creative spirit embody the heart of the College of Fine Arts—proving that great teachers don’t just teach art, they help students discover their own.
Daamen Krall ’75
Daamen Krall ’75, a master of voice and performance, has spent nearly five decades bringing stories to life across film, television and radio.
After earning his M.A. in Theatre from USD, Krall launched a career that took him from the Black Hills Playhouse to Hollywood studios. His extensive voice acting résumé includes work on films like The Lion King, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Cars 3, Sing, The Great Gatsby, Happy Feet and The Lego Movie. His television credits include Star Trek: Voyager, The X-Files and Remington Steele, among many others.
Krall also directed voice-over sessions for stars including Barbra Streisand, Robert Redford and Sir Richard Attenborough, and gained international acclaim as host of the rebooted radio drama Suspense (2014–2019), which was nominated for two Peabody Awards.
From his start at USD to his rise as one of Hollywood’s most respected voice talents, Krall’s career showcases the enduring reach of storytelling—and the power of a voice honed on the South Dakota stage.
Scott Lawrence ’78
Scott Lawrence ’78 turned a passion for music into a career in leadership, marketing and community impact. After earning his BFA in Music Education from USD, he taught high school band before joining Lawrence & Schiller, where he rose to become President and CEO.
At the helm of one of the region’s top marketing firms, Lawrence has led campaigns for Sanford Health, First PREMIER Bank, the South Dakota Lottery and numerous statewide initiatives. His leadership philosophy, built on teamwork, creativity and care, traces back to his roots in the marching band.
Beyond business, Lawrence has served on boards for the USD Foundation, South Dakota Symphony Orchestra and National Music Museum, where he helped secure $2 million in legislative funding for renovations. Named South Dakota Sales and Marketing Executive of the Year in 2022, he also authored The Leader of the Band, a reflection on lessons learned from his early teaching career.
From music to marketing, Scott Lawrence has proven that great leaders, like great conductors, know how to bring out the best in others.
Dr. Lawrence L. Mitchell ’61
A cornerstone of USD’s music legacy, Dr. Lawrence “Doc” Mitchell ’61 devoted more than 30 years to inspiring generations of students as professor, conductor and mentor.
After earning his BFA in Music Education from USD, Mitchell taught and performed across Iowa before returning to his alma mater in 1973. During his tenure, he led the Marching Coyotes, Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band, chaired the Department of Music, and founded several hallmark events including the Quad State Marching Competition and the Coyote Jazz Festival.
Beloved by students and colleagues alike, “Doc” Mitchell was known for his warmth, integrity, and high standards. His honors include the Phi Beta Mu Distinguished Service Award, South Dakota Outstanding Bandmaster of the Year, and even a state proclamation naming April 30, 2006, as Dr. Lawrence Mitchell Day. His legacy lives on through countless students who now teach and perform across the country, continuing his lifelong mission to make music matter.
Robert Penn ’72
A celebrated artist and visionary, Wičáhpi Čik’ala, Robert Penn ’72 used art to illuminate the Native American experience with depth, spirit and truth.
A proud Sičháŋǧu Lakota and Omaha artist, Penn first discovered his creative calling under the mentorship of Oscar Howe at USD. After earning his BFA in Fine Arts in 1972, he went on to gain national and international acclaim for his paintings and mixed media works, which explored themes of identity, spirituality and family.
Throughout his career, Penn blended Lakhota design and abstraction with contemporary forms, producing powerful series like Urban Indian, The Altar and Mixed Blood. His later works, including The Sisters, Ghost Dance Song and Elk Dreamer Society, reveal an artist deeply engaged with both cultural heritage and modern life.
In 1991, he founded the Oscar Howe Summer Art Institute to mentor Native artists, cementing his commitment to education and cultural preservation. Penn’s honors include the South Dakota Governor’s Award for Distinction in Creative Achievement in the Arts and induction into the South Dakota Hall of Fame. His legacy continues to inspire future generations to tell their stories through art.
