Peg Leg Bates Memorial Scholarship

Established through a generous gift from Mildred and Louis Resnick in honor of Clayton (Peg Leg) Bates, a dancer born in 1907 who despite losing a leg when he was young, made a successful career as a tap dancer for more than three decades from the Cotton Club in the 1920’s to the Ed Sullivan Show in the 1950’s. He appeared at the Appolo Theatre and made 7 European tours. In his later years he opened the Peg Leg Bates Country Club in Kerhonkson, NY, the first black resort owner in Ulster County and in the Catskills.

Students must be registered with the DRC and attending SUNY New Paltz as a fully matriculated, full-time student for two semesters of study. Students should hold a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Applicants should submit a statement expressing what benefit the scholarship will have on their experience at SUNY New Paltz.