Kelty Scholarship

About Dick Kelty

September 13, 1919 – January 12, 2004

Dick Kelty loved hiking and backpacking in the Sierra Nevada. In 1950, unhappy with his heavy, uncomfortable army backpack, Dick Kelty decided to design his own. Out went the heavy wooden frame. In its place Dick used lightweight aluminum tubing, molding it to follow the contours of the human body. The greatest improvement was the addition of the waist strap (later padded) which transferred the weight of the pack from the shoulders to the hips. For increased comfort, he also padded the shoulder straps. Dick then worked on the bag, using a rugged nylon. For easier access to items, he divided the bag into compartments, added a hold-open frame at the top, and outside zippered pockets. Gone too was the “one size fits all” aspect – his new creation came in three sizes! Dick’s design was never static – he added and improved features as feedback from customers or his own experience suggested. As he wanted all of his customers to enjoy their backcountry experiences as much as he did, Dick took a personal interest in their trips and was always available to help with equipment and advice. Despite the constant evolution of the backpack, Dick Kelty’s revolutionary innovations are evident in every pack sold today.

About the Kelty Scholarship

This scholarship was established in 2008 in memory of Dick Kelty as a way to provide an opportunity to adult volunteers who wish to participate in the Big City Mountaineers program that would otherwise be kept from doing so because of the required $125 volunteer fee. Big City Mountaineers is proud to extend this scholarship in Dick Kelty’s memory. In honor of his love for the wilderness, this scholarship will be offered to select BCM volunteers each season based on their merit and desire. We will be awarding 4-10 scholarships annually.

Applicants will be selected based on several criteria, including:
•    Specific skills or background that would benefit a BCM trip.
•    Financial Need

Apply today. Click here for <Scholarship Application>.

Please fax, email or mail application to:
Brie Brower
Email: Brie@bigcitymountaineers.org
Fax: 303-954-4764
Address: 1667 Vine St. Denver, CO 80206

Applications must be received at BCM by April 22nd, 2010. Scholarship grantees will be notified by May 5th, 2010.