They’re at Eastern Mennonite University to become teachers, doctors, mediators and more, but they’re also musicians – and so EMU has awarded music scholarships to a dozen first-year students who aren’t music majors but participate in music ensembles.
“Music is such an integral part to our community,” said Jim Smucker, vice president for student life. “Music majors aren’t the only ones to bring this vibrancy to campus, and these scholarships affirm the contributions that non-music majors also make.”
Departmental scholarships at EMU are awarded to incoming students in specific academic and extracurricular programs, including students who commit to being part of an EMU music performance group. Select students of any non-music major will receive scholarships of up to $3,000 that can be renewed for four years and are in addition to their basic financial aid packages. Scholarships for music majors are also available.
2018 Recipients
- Emily Davis (King George, Virginia) has played in orchestras or for musicals since fourth grade. Also a softball player, she is studying biology with a goal of working in physical therapy or radiology.
- Elizabeth Eby (Goshen, Indiana) graduated from high school with an award for having led music for chapel services and participated in musicals, choir and original musical dramas. Now she’s studying peacebuilding and development to “make an impact wherever I may be needed,” perhaps in mediation, advocacy or policy formation. Music, she said, isn’t just about sound, she said: “Singing with other people and listening to the harmonies that are formed in community is one of the only true spiritual experiences I’ve had. I’m excited to feel that in this new community.”
- Stephanie Kniss (Chambersburg, Pennsylvania) is majoring in global development and writing studies, but is also looking forward to building on her experiences in her high school’s select and touring choirs through “the dynamic of a college-level choir,” she said.
- Rachel Lute (New Market, Virginia) was accepted by audition to all-district band, Virginia Tech’s Honor Band and all-district and all-state choirs in high school. Now she’s studying to become an elementary school teacher, and said she has “lots of positive energy” to contribute to the EMU music scene.
- When Mary Miller-Eshleman (Dover, Ohio) visited campus as a prospective student, she thought the “small community atmosphere” would be “a good place to build a community away from home,” she said, noting its “firm standing in Jesus as a peacemaker.” She’s studying psychology and, as she did in high school, participating in orchestra and musical events.
- Hannah Neebe (Woodbridge, Virginia) is studying to be an elementary school teacher and has a music minor. A French horn player, her high school experiences included marching, concert, symphonic and festival bands as well as a stint during middle school as the band directors’ teacher’s assistant.
- Jonathan Reimer-Berg (Salem, Oregon) plans to become a math teacher. In high school he accumulated several musical honors: he was a three-time member of the all-city orchestra; district second for solo and ensemble duet; a member of the chamber orchestra, which took second place at state for three consecutive years; and three-time state champion symphony. EMU, he said, is “a small school with people that have values similar to my own” where he can play “fun music with cool people.”
- Partha Roy (Takoma Park, Maryland) spent his high school years in band and chorus, and played the lead role in The Fantasticks, plus performed Broadway songs as part of a group pulled together by his principal. His dream job is working as a flight attendant and traveling the world. He has not yet decided on a major.
- Andrew Stoltzfus (Harrisonburg) is in EMU’s pre-med program, but also enjoys being onstage and performing; he also has a theater minor. In high school he was in a small group and the choir, and played strings, and received an award for his music involvements.
- Katherine Szambecki (Newton, Kansas), an English major, hopes to be an editor and writer. She played in her high school’s orchestra and as part of many chamber groups.
- Avery Trinh (Columbia, Maryland), a psychology major with a math minor, played in his high school’s wind ensemble and marching band, and was lead tenor for the jazz band. He came to EMU for its “focus on the whole person, and the community aspect” and is a member of the Royals jazz band.
- Jason Wong (North Newton, Kansas) is a computer engineering major and in high school was a member of the all-state orchestra.