Music Students Receive Awards, Scholarships

June 9, 2009

Oklahoma Baptist University's Warren M. Angell College of Fine Arts recognized outstanding students in music studies and awarded numerous scholarships during a music awards banquet May 11 and the 2009 Awards Convocation on May 13 in Raley Chapel.

Morgan Gordon, a rising senior from Lexington, Okla., received the School of Music's esteemed Presser Undergraduate Scholar Award, awarded to an outstanding music major, recognizing the student's excellence at the end of his or her junior year.

"This prestigious award is given by many schools across the nation and is funded by the Presser Foundation," said Dr. Paul Hammond, dean of the College of Fine Arts. "The recipient is to be the outstanding rising senior, and we are pleased that Morgan Gordon possesses all of the qualities that are required for a Presser scholar. She joins a select list of seniors and will represent OBU well when she begins her music career."

Gordon also received the Wiley Public School Music Scholarship, given to a rising senior music education major who shows the greatest promise and dedication in the teaching of music.

Hammond recognized outstanding seniors in fine arts during the awards convocation. Aaron Foshee, a voice performance major from Jones, Okla., received the Outstanding Senior in Music award. The honor recognizes the student who has excelled as a performer, who has consistently exhibited the highest standards of scholarship and who best represents the ideals of the University. Foshee graduated with the designation magna cum laude, having maintained at least a 3.70 grade point average, during Spring Commencement Saturday, May 23, in Raley Chapel's Potter Auditorium.

Dr. James Vernon, chairman of OBU's Division of Music and associate professor of music, presented more than 60 scholarships during the music banquet. Lucas Simmons, a sophomore from Weleetka, Okla., received the Bartlett Scholarship, given to an Okmulgee-area student enrolled in a church music course. Casey Flynt, a sophomore from Turpin, Okla., Tyler Neighbors, a sophomore from Skiatook, Okla., and Caleb Willis, a senior from Krum, Texas, received the Hudson Award, given to a rising junior or senior church music major who exhibits a strong personal Christian commitment. Flynt also received the Smith/Whitaker scholarship. Katie Fallen, a freshman from Wagoner, Okla., received the Lane Scholarship, given to a student who exhibits a commitment to the Lord. Kristen Slocum, a sophomore from Collinsville, Okla., received the Gaskin Award, given to students majoring in church music. Daniel Evans, a senior from Moore, Okla., received the Harris Church Music Award, given to a church music student judged to be outstanding for the year.

Jon Livingston, a freshman from Bixby, Okla., Sean Muzljakovich, a freshman from Bartlesville, Okla., and Greg Spena, a junior from Louisville, Ky., received the Appling scholarship, given to students committed to local church ministry who plan to be full-time church music ministers. Muzljakovich also received the Velau-Willis scholarship. Sarah Graham, a junior from Ponca City, Okla., received the White Memorial Scholarship, given to a voice student. Graham also received the Bisonette Scholarship, given to a rising junior or senior member of the Bisonette Glee Club who has demonstrated leadership and is respected by her peers, and the Ford Family scholarship, given to an outstanding music major. Courtney Bryant, a freshman from Moore, received the Davis Memorial, given to a voice major. Lauren McHaney, a freshman from Mansfield, Texas, received the Timberlake Theory Scholarship, given to the highest-ranking freshman music major in a freshman honors theory course. McHaney also received the Hilton scholarship.

Sarah Bailey, a junior from Noble, Okla., received the Hankey Scholarship, given to a junior vocal education major. Bailey also received the Burk scholarship. Meghan Loyd, a junior from Fort Smith, Ark., received the Hall-Rice Memorial Scholarship, given to a music education major. Spring Butler, a senior from Grapevine, Texas, and Lindsay Inman, a junior from Peyton, Colo., received the Lewis/Meyer Piano Scholarship, given to a piano major. Inman also received the Woods Piano Performance scholarship. M. Nicole Thompson, a senior from Ardmore, Okla., received the Scales Memorial Scholarship, given to a rising senior piano major of exceptional ability. Thompson also received the Angell scholarship, given to an exemplary music student with good academic standing. Abigail Chaplin, a junior from Noble, received the Patterson Music Scholarship, given to the most promising piano student. Brenden Laughlin, a freshman from Rio Rancho, N.M., received the Robbins Memorial Scholarship, given to a student majoring in piano or organ. Emily Rowland, a sophomore from Bartlett, Tenn., received the McGavern Piano Scholarship, given to a student who shows exceptional ability and promise as a pianist.

Ian Hockett, a junior from Dallas, Texas, received the Cox/Bison Glee Club Award, given to a member of the Bison Glee Club who majors in music. Hockett and Sara Elliott, a sophomore from Bartlesville, received the Music Endowed scholarship, given to outstanding music majors as selected by the music faculty. Elliott also received the Winton and Baw scholarships. Valerie Hunt, a junior from Peoria, Ariz., received the Grant Award, given to a top junior music major based on talent and academic achievement. Hunt also received the Kirk/Hamilton scholarship, given to a junior or senior music major in good academic standing with good character, and the Bardwell scholarship. The Stith Award, given to two juniors and two seniors who plan on music as a career and have an outstanding academic record, was presented to Griffin Maxwell, a junior from Enid, Okla.; Patrick Womack, a junior from Oklahoma City; Emily Rowland; and Spring Butler. David Giaco, a junior from St. Charles, Mo., received the Woodward award, given to a rising music major senior who shows outstanding potential, seriousness of purpose and above average classroom and performance ability. Beth Polston, a sophomore from Broken Arrow, Okla., received the King scholarship, given to a deserving music student chosen by the music faculty.

Jon Flowers, a freshman from Bedford, Texas, received the McKinney scholarship, given to a worthy music student. The Bardwell scholarship, also given to worthy music students, was presented to Geoff Martin, a freshman from Broken Arrow; Melissa Argo, a sophomore from Gallup, N.M.; Lindsay Inman; and Abigail Chaplin. Andre Jones, a freshman from Lawton, Okla., received the Horton scholarship, given to a music student with academic merit and performance potential. Jones and Kade Goforth, a junior from Tulsa, Okla., received the Jim Brown scholarship. Courtney Tice, a sophomore from Oologah, Okla., received the Hammond scholarship, given to a worthy music major.

Other scholarships awarded included the Hall Scholarship, presented to Ashlyn Streck, a freshman from Hennessey, Okla.; Katelyn Horrocks, a freshman from Cushing, Okla.; and Meghan Loyd. The Tim Hodges scholarship was presented to Jee Choi, a junior from Shawnee. The Martin scholarship was presented to Fernando Castro, a freshman from Vila Velha, Espírito Santo, Brazil. Malerie Nelson, a junior from Sherman, Texas, received the Higginbotham scholarship. The Guy Carr scholarship was presented to Andrew Harper, a freshman from Olympia, Wash.

The Warren M. Angell College of Fine Arts provides opportunities for all students to experience the fine arts as an integral part of a liberal arts education. The curricula of the college offer strong professional programs in art, drama, music, communication and theatre. The college's diverse courses and print and electronic media performance opportunities enable students to acquire a comprehensive background of artistic experiences.