The Kelson Scholarship Foundation was created to honor the life, passions, adventurous spirit and legacy of Kelson Lineberry, a Pendleton Heights High School graduate whose impact on those around him continues to be felt decades later.
During his time at PHHS in the mid-1980s, Kelson was deeply involved in both academics and student life. He was a member of the National Honor Society, a four-year tennis letterman, and earned both All-Conference and MVP honors on the court. Beyond athletics, Kelson found a true passion in broadcasting. He held numerous leadership positions at WEEM, the school radio station he loved so much, and even worked part-time at a local AM/FM radio station under the on-air name “Kevin Davis.”
After high school, Kelson pursued a professional career in life insurance services and annuities. However, his life was tragically cut short at the age of 28 due to complications from AIDS, during a time when lifesaving treatments were not yet widely available to those affected. Like millions around the world, Kelson’s future was stolen far too soon.
Wanting Kelson to be remembered not for how he died, but for how he lived, his family worked alongside Steve Cherry, General Manager of WEEM, and Dick Creger of the South Madison Community Foundation to establish the Kelson Scholarship Foundation. Since 1994, the foundation has proudly awarded scholarships to Pendleton Heights High School students, with a special focus on students involved in WEEM and school broadcasting programs.
Today, the scholarship continues to celebrate creativity, leadership, dedication, and the passion Kelson carried throughout his life. Through every student supported, his story and spirit continue to inspire future generations.