About the National Chapter of the Year Award
The Tri-M National Chapter of the Year program is designed to motivate and reward chapters that develop active service projects, encourage chapter officers to perform their duties properly, and bring about more awareness and interest in what other Tri-M chapters are doing. Winning chapters receive scholarship funds for summer music study. This year’s Chapter of the Year Winners and Runners Up are:
Senior Division
- Winner: Villa Maria Academy, Chapter #1227 of Malvern, Pennsylvania, advised by Joyce Prichard
- 1st Runner Up: Great Neck North High School, Chapter #2605 of Great Neck, New York, advised by Joseph Rutkowski
- 2nd Runner Up: Nazareth Academy High School, Chapter #2096 of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, advised by Margaret Lafferty
Junior Division
- Winner: Lakewood Middle School, Chapter #6027 of Salina, Kansas, advised by Lindsay Ladman
- 1st Runner Up: Ranney Middle School, Chapter #4410 of Tinton Falls, New Jersey, advised by Lilliane Torrente
- 2nd Runner Up: Whitley County Middle School, Chapter #3940 of Williamsburg, Kentucky, advised by Glenn Cotterell
The winning chapters have lived up to Tri-M’s values by working hard all year in their schools and communities. Here’s some of what they’ve been up to.
Senior Division Winner: Villa Maria Academy
The chapter at Villa Maria Academy is Senior Division winner two years in a row! This year, the Tri-M students once again organized and attended a number of school, community service, and musical events.
One of the highlights of the year for their chapter was their second annual organization of a charity called “Reindeer Romp” to benefit the Special Olympics of Delaware County. Close to 70 Villa Maria students helped raised $4000, walking (in the cold) around Villa Maria’s campus. “It was a wonderful experience because you got to sing, get exercise and do service all in one,” says Tri-M member Megan Burst.
Another interesting highlight of this chapter’s year was participating in a CD/DVD drive to donate old CDs and DVDs to the Philadelphia Zoo to be used as toys for the monkeys in the Primate house. This is a great way to benefit the animals and benefit the environment as a safe way to recycle old CDs and DVDs.
This very active chapter attends plays and musicals throughout the year, participates in orchestra, band and choral performances, writes welcome letters to incoming freshman at their school, and does various fundraisers throughout the year to raise money for local and national charities.
For more information about this successful chapter, please visit their website.
Junior Division Winner: Lakewood Middle School
Lakewood Middle School, a newly formed Jr. Tri-M Chapter, had an active year, making them this year’s Junior Division Winner! They had their very first Tri-M gathering in October 2009, where they had a pizza dinner, watched a movie, and made their own Tri-M shirts. They held their very first Tri-M induction ceremony on December 14th.
During the year, they spread some holiday cheer by volunteering to perform at a local nursing home. They were also invited to play for “Music at the Mall” by a local music store. They performed two days over the holiday season for shoppers at the local mall. They were also able to attend Kansas Music Educators Association State Conference.
This newly formed chapter invited guests to their chapter meetings, went on field trips, and performed various times throughout the school year. From 1st time chapter to Junior Division Chapter of the Year in one school year. Congratulations, Lakewood!
–Jen Reed, June 2, 2010, © MENC: The National Association for Music Education
