Music Students Receive Awards, Scholarships

June 15, 2010

Oklahoma Baptist University's Warren M. Angell College of Fine Arts recently recognized outstanding students in music studies and awarded numerous scholarships during a spring music awards banquet and the 2010 Awards Convocation in May.

Melissa Argo, a rising senior from Gallup, N.M., 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. The 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.

OBU rising senior Melissa Argo (right), from Gallup, N.M., is recognized as OBU's esteemed Presser Undergraduate Scholar by Dr. Kristen Stauffer Todd, chair of the Division of Music, during a spring awards banquet.

Hammond recognized outstanding seniors in fine arts during the awards convocation. Spring Butler, a piano performance with pedagogy emphasis major from Grapevine, Texas, 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. Butler graduated with the designation summa cum laude.Dr. Kristen Stauffer Todd, chair of OBU's Division of Music and associate professor of music, presented more than 50 scholarships during the music banquet. Valerie Hunt, a senior from Peoria, Ariz., received the James D. Woodward Musicianship Award Scholarship, given to a rising music major senior who shows outstanding potential, seriousness of purpose and above average classroom and performance ability. Hunt also received the Lois B. Wiley Public School Music Scholarship.

Casey Flynt, a junior from Turpin, Okla., Tyler Neighbors, a junior from Skiatook, Okla., and Kristen Slocum, a junior from Collinsville, Okla., received the Charles A. Hudson Memorial Scholarship, given to rising junior or senior church music majors who exhibit a strong personal Christian commitment. Flynt also received the Lavaun Smith and Gale Whitaker Music Memorial Scholarship. Neighbors also received the Guy L. Carr Memorial Scholarship. Slocum also received the A. Joseph and Sue B. King Scholarship, given to a deserving music student chosen by the music faculty. Greg Spena, a junior from Louisville, Ky., received the Tommy Lane Minister of Music Scholarship, given to a student who exhibits a commitment to the Lord.

Fernando Castro, a sophomore from Vila Velha, Brazil; Andre Jones, a sophomore from Lawton, Okla.; and Michelle Walkup, a sophomore from Weatherford, Okla., received the Warren M. Angell Tribute Scholarship, given to exemplary music students with good academic standing. Castro also received the Helen Gaskin Church Music Scholarship, given to students majoring in church music. Jones and Kade Goforth, a senior from Tulsa, Okla., received the William James Brown Music Scholarship. Goforth also received the Michael T. Cox Bison Glee Club Scholarship, given to a member of the Bison Glee Club who majors in music. Jones also received the Nancy Montgomery Memorial Scholarship, awarded to worthy junior and senior music education majors who have successfully completed their basic core and degree core unified studies.

Courtney Bryant, a sophomore from Moore, Okla.; Stephanie Marchbanks, a sophomore from Overland Park, Kan.; Griffin Maxwell, a senior from Enid, Okla.; and Emily Rowland, a senior from Bartlett, Tenn., received the Clarence E. and H. Helen Sawyer Stith Memorial Music Scholar award, given to two juniors and two seniors who plan on music as a career and have an outstanding academic record. Marchbanks also received the Fred W. and Rhoda L. Hankey Scholarship, given to a junior vocal education major, and the Virginia Denyer Reese Scholarship. Maxwell also received the Warren M. and Evalyn Wells Angell Scholarship, given to an exemplary music student with good academic standing. Rowland also received the John Grover Scales Memorial Scholarship, given to a rising senior piano major of exceptional ability.

Jonathan Livingston, a sophomore from Bixby, Okla.; Sean Muzljakovich, a junior from Bartlesville, Okla.; and Caleb Willis, a senior from Krum, Texas, received The Billy Appling Church Music Scholarship, given to students committed to local church ministry who plan to be full-time church music ministers. Muzljakovich also received the Mrs. Cora White Memorial Scholarship, given to a voice student, and the Velau-Willis Music Scholarship. Brenden Laughlin, a sophomore from Rio Rancho, N.M., received the Clair and Ruth McGavern Piano Scholarship, given to a student who shows exceptional ability and promise as a pianist. Laughlin also received the Susan D. Grant Scholarship, given to a top music major based on talent and academic achievement, and the B. B. McKinney Scholarship, given to a worthy music student as chosen by the dean of Fine Arts.

Micah Reinhart, a senior from Mooreland, Okla., received the Jack Pearson 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 Beverly Pearson Bisonette Scholarship. Reinhart also received the Betty Ruth Davis Memorial Scholarship, given to a voice major, and the Pattie Boothe Arnold Handbell Scholarship. Lauren McHaney, a junior from Mansfield, Texas, received the Hilton Music Scholarship, given to a worthy music student selected by the dean of Fine Arts. Sara Elliott, a junior from Bartlesville, Okla., and Beth Polston, a senior from Broken Arrow, Okla., received the Music Endowed Scholarship, given to outstanding music majors as selected by the music faculty. Abigail Chaplin, a senior from Noble, Okla., received The Reverend and Mrs. L.C. Robbins Memorial Scholarship, given to a student majoring in piano or organ.

Tabitha Wasik, a freshman from Burleson, Texas, received the Kathryne O'Bryan Timberlake Scholarship in Honors Music Theory, given to the highest-ranking freshman music major in a freshman honors theory course. Waskik; Courtney Tice, a junior from Oologah, Okla.; Ashlynn Streck, a freshman from Hennessey, Okla.; and Jonathan Hamrick, a junior from Cedar Crest, N.M., received the Catherine Mae Bardwell Memorial Scholarship, given to worthy music students. Streck; Meghan Loyd, a senior from Fort Smith, Ark.; Brittany Seale, a freshman from Broken Arrow; and Dana Ward, a freshman from Muscatine, Iowa, received the Lois Moore Hall Scholarship, given to a female music student as recommended by the dean of Fine Arts. Streck also received the Burk Family Music Scholarship, given to a music education major with at least a 3.0 grade point average. Loyd also received the Hall-Rice Memorial Scholarship, given to a music education major.

Johnathan Flowers, a sophomore from Irving, Texas, received the David W. Bardwell Sr. and Catherine Mae Bardwell Scholarship, given to a music major as chosen by the dean of Fine Arts, and the P.J. and Vivian Higginbotham Scholarship in Music. Alyssa Haffner, a sophomore from Oklahoma City, received the Floris and Elbert Patterson Music Scholarship, given to the most promising piano student. Haffner also received the Jacob E. and Maye Young Kirk and Dorothy Kirk Hamilton Scholarship, given to a junior or senior music major in good academic standing with good character. Sarah Stephens, a freshman from Tulsa, received the Ford Family Music Scholarship, given to an outstanding music major. Jaci Graves, a senior from Marland, Okla., received the Charlotte Martin Music Scholarship, given to a music major chosen by the dean of Fine Arts. Elizabeth Youngblood, a freshman from Midwest City, Okla., received the Horton Fine Arts Scholarship, given to a music student with academic merit and performance potential.

Sarah Graham, a senior from Ponca City, Okla., received the Alice Baw Memorial Scholarship, given to a music major recognized for outstanding achievement, and the Georgia M. Winton Scholarship, given to a music major. David Bacher, a freshman from Broken Arrow, received the Tim Hodges Memorial Scholarship. Alice Putnam, a freshman from Oklahoma City, received The Dr. Paul Hammond Music Scholarship, given to a worthy music major. Ben Koch, an incoming freshman from Blackwell, Okla., received the William Rowlett King Memorial Scholarship; the Ron Lews/Sandra Meyer Piano Scholarship, given to a piano major; and the John E. Woods Memorial Piano Performance Scholarship.

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.