Caitlin Merie Hurrey Memorial Scholarships Named in Memory of Budding Musician
RESTON, VA (July 14, 2010) — Four recipients were named in the annual Caitlin Merie Hurrey Memorial Scholarship awards, established as part of the Fund for the Advancement of Music Education (FAME) of MENC: The National Association for Music Education. Caitlin Hurrey was nine years old and in the fourth grade at Huntingtown Elementary School in Huntingtown, Maryland when she died. She loved to play in the band and sing in the chorus, and she wanted to be a teacher when she grew up.
The Caitlin Scholarship Fund provides four scholarships each year: one awarded to a son or daughter of an MENC member who is planning to attend an accredited college or university; one, a professional grant, awarded to a college senior and member of MENC’s Collegiate program; one presented to a son or daughter of an active-duty or retired member of an U.S. armed forces musical ensemble; and one awarded to a high school senior who is planning to attend an accredited college or university and has a personal connection to Huntingtown Elementary School (parent, student, family member, etc.).
The 2010 MENC Scholarship winner is Ashley Earnhardt of Winston Salem, NC. The daughter of MENC member and choir director Carol Earnhardt, Ashley has been immersed in music her entire life. Ashley has been an active participant in school music programs since middle school—she was a member of the North Carolina Honors Chorus for two years and held the lead roles for two years in the Glenn High School Musical, while taking piano and voice lessons and participating in handbells, adult choir, and youth praise band in her church. Ashley plans to attend the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and major in music education.
Abigail Pulvermacher of Princeton, WI is the winner of the 2010 Caitlin Merie Hurrey Scholarship for Collegiate Professional Achievement. Abigail is a senior music education major at the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater, where she is the president of the Collegiate MENC chapter. In January, Abigail utilized her leadership and organizational skills as the chair of the Wisconsin CMENC conference. She is also a coordinator of the “Sounds and Vision” program, which provides enriched music experiences for local elementary school students through playing and participating in workshops.
A consummate volunteer, Abigail has helped with the 2007 MENC National Conference, the State Marching Band Competition, as well as at summer band camps, the Listening Project, and at Fine Arts Night at a local elementary school.
According to one professor, Abigail’s leadership has transformed her CMENC chapter into a “very dynamic and proactive organization. I strongly believe that she will be an amazing music educator and leader of our profession.”
The 2010 Military Scholarship winner is Sarah Casey of Elkridge, Maryland. Her father, Charles Casey, is a member of “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band. A dedicated and talented flutist, Sarah has studied the instrument for 11 years. She was a member of the Peabody Conservatory Youth Symphony Orchestra for two years, the Chesapeake Youth Symphony Orchestra for two years, a member of the symphonic band and National Honor Society at her school, and was active in the orchestra at her church. Her three mission trips to Guatemala to help establish an instrumental program in an impoverished area had a great impact on Sarah and her understanding of the importance of music education for every child. Sarah will major in flute performance at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia.
The 2010 Huntingtown Scholarship winner is Edward Allan Bryner of Prince Frederick, Maryland. A member of Calvert High School’s Jazz Band and Wind Ensemble, Ed was inducted into the Tri-M Honor Society in 2006. A versatile and talented athlete, Ed participated in three varsity sports—golf, swimming, and baseball. He also attained the rank of Eagle Scout. On top of all of this, Ed was recognized by the College Board’s AP program as an AP Scholar, a member of the National Honor Society, and the Foreign Language honorarium. As further proof of his time management skills, Ed served his community as a volunteer swim coach with the Special Olympics. Ed will attend The Johns Hopkins University to study electrical engineering.
“I am delighted and very thankful to MENC for supporting Caitlin’s scholarship fund. This scholarship fund will honor Caitlin’s name and provide needed financial assistance to students for many years to come,” says Earl Hurrey, Caitlin’s father and former MENC Deputy Executive Director.
For more information on the Caitlin Merie Hurrey Scholarship Fund, or to make a donation, visit the Scholarship page. For more information about MENC, call 1-800-336-3768, or visit menc.org.
For today’s students to succeed tomorrow, they need a comprehensive education that includes music taught by exemplary music educators.
MENC: The National Association for Music Education, among the world’s largest arts education organizations, marked its centennial in 2007 as the only association that addresses all aspects of music education. Through membership of more than 75,000 active, retired, and pre-service music teachers, and with 60,000 honor students and supporters, MENC serves millions of students nationwide through activities at all teaching levels, from preschool to graduate school. MENC’s mission is to advance music education by encouraging the study and making of music by all. Since 1907, MENC has worked to ensure that every student has access to a well-balanced, comprehensive, and high-quality program of music instruction taught by qualified teachers. MENC’s activities and resources have been largely responsible for the establishment of music education as a profession, for the promotion and guidance of music study as an integral part of the school curriculum, and for the development of the National Standards for Arts Education. MENC is located at the National Center for Music Education in Reston, VA.
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