Music Students Receive Awards, Scholarships

May 9, 2013

OBU's Warren M. Angell College of Fine Arts recognized outstanding students in music studies and awarded numerous scholarships during a spring music awards banquet May 6 and during the 2013 Awards Convocation May 8.

Sarah Stephens, a senior vocal performance major from Tulsa, Okla., received the award for an outstanding senior in the Division of Music during the Awards Convocation. The honor, presented by Dr. Ken Gabrielse, dean of the College of Fine Arts, 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. Stephens will graduate with the designation summa cum laude for maintaining at least a 3.95 grade point average.

Graham Jones, a junior from Arlington, Texas, was awarded the Division of Music's Presser Foundation Scholarship, given to one rising senior music major selected as the most outstanding student both in scholarship and performance by the music faculty. The prestigious award is given by several schools across the nation and is funded by the Presser Foundation.

Graham Jones (right) is awarded OBU's Presser Foundation Scholarship by Dr. Randolph Johnson, assistant professor of music.

Davis Simmons, a junior from Henderson, Nev., and Bryan Shuler, a sophomore from Red Oak, Texas, received the Charles A. Hudson Memorial Scholarship, awarded to rising junior or senior church music majors who exhibit strong personal Christian commitment and maintain a 2.75 grade point average. Shuler also was awarded the Kirk/Hamilton scholarship, given to a junior or senior music major in good academic standing and of good character.

Nathan Sanders, a sophomore from Nicoma Park, Okla., received the Tommy Lane Minister of Music Scholarship, awarded to students who display a commitment to the Lord. Sanders also received the B.B. McKinney Scholarship, awarded to one worthy music student, as well as the Stith Memorial Music Scholarship, awarded to two juniors and two seniors who plan on music as a career and have outstanding academic record.

Whitney Keithley, a sophomore from Bentonville, Ark., was awarded the Helen Gaskin Church Music Scholarship, presented to students majoring in church music.

Sammy Andrews, a sophomore from Checotah, Okla., received the John R. Harris Church Music Award, given to one church music student judged to be outstanding for the year. Andrews also was awarded the Michael Cox Bison Glee Club Scholarship, presented to sophomore, junior or senior Glee Club members majoring in music who maintain a 3.0 grade point average.

Hannah Behrends, a freshman from McKinney, Texas, and Christin Woodall, a freshman from Vinita, Okla., were awarded Billy Appling Church Music Scholarships, presented to students committed to local church ministry and who plan to be full-time church ministers.

Bailee Rogers, a sophomore from Bixby, Okla., was awarded the Cora White Memorial Scholarship, given to voice students.

Courtney King, a freshman from Oklahoma City, received the Betty Ruth Davis Memorial Scholarship, awarded to voice majors who maintain a 2.5 grade point average. King also was awarded the Music Endowed Scholarship, awarded to outstanding music majors selected by the music faculty.

Breana White, a junior from Broken Arrow, Okla., was awarded the Hudson/Partridge Award.

Megan Mattke, a freshman from Broken Arrow, Okla., received the K. Timberlake School Honors Music Scholarship, awarded to the highest-ranking freshman music major in the freshman Honors Theory course. Mattke also was awarded the L.C. Robbins Memorial Scholarship, given to worthy upperclassmen majoring in piano or organ, and the Digby and Carol Ann Bell Scholarship, presented to piano majors interested in collaborative performance.

Melanie Clanton, a sophomore from Fort Smith, Ark., received the Fred and Rhonda Hankey Scholarship, awarded to a rising junior vocal education major who maintains a 3.2 grade point average.

Jessica Stone, a junior from Catoosa, Okla., and Brittni Bilyeu, a junior from Blanchard, Okla., were awarded Hall-Rice Memorial Scholarships, given to music education majors who maintain a 2.5 grade point average. Stone also was awarded the Stith Memorial Music Scholarship. Bilyeu also was awarded the Music Endowed Scholarship.

Morganne Garcia, a junior from Rogers, Ark., received the Wiley Public School Music Scholarship, awarded to a rising senior music education major who shows the greatest promise and dedication in the teaching of music. Garcia also was awarded the J. Woodward Musicianship Award, given to one senior music major that shows outstanding potential, seriousness of purpose and above-average classroom and performance ability.

Sadie Elliot, a sophomore from Oklahoma City, received the Lewis/Meyer Piano Scholarship, awarded to one piano major. Elliot also was awarded the Catherine Mae Bardwell Memorial Scholarship, presented to worthy music students. Victoria Smith, a freshman from Little Elm, Texas, also received the Catherine Mae Bardwell Memorial Scholarship.

Lauren Sinko, a junior from Chandler, Okla., received the John Grover Scales Memorial Scholarship, awarded to one rising senior piano major of exceptional ability.

Kristin Lee, a freshman from Plano, Texas, received the F. and E. Patterson Music Scholarship, presented to one rising senior piano major of exceptional ability. Lee also was awarded the Angell Scholarship, given to an exemplary music student displaying good academic standing.

Mary Crone, a freshman from Stillwater, Okla., was awarded the Clair and Ruth McGavern Piano Scholarship, presented to freshmen, sophomore and junior piano majors who show exceptional ability and promise as a pianist.

Graeson Griffin, a freshman from Shawnee, Okla., was awarded the J. Woods Piano Performance Award, given to piano performance majors.

Laurel Page, a freshman from McKinney, Texas, was awarded the Virginia Reese Organ Scholarship, presented to music majors studying organ and showing significant ability in organ performance.

Emily Eubanks, a sophomore from Harrah, Okla., received the Susan D. Grant Scholarship, awarded to one top rising junior music major displaying talent and academic achievement. Eubanks also received the Catherine Mae Bardwell Memorial Scholarship.

Joy Knight, a senior from North Richland Hills, Texas, and Sarah Gore, a sophomore from Bartlesville, Okla., received Stith Memorial Music Scholarships, awarded to 2 juniors and 2 seniors who plan on music as a career and have outstanding academic record.

Ben Hopkins, a sophomore from Pawhuska, Okla., was awarded the William Rowlett King Memorial Scholarship, given to one deserving music student selected by the music faculty.

Katie Batt, a sophomore from Shawnee, Okla., was awarded the Ford Family Music Scholarship, presented to one outstanding music major.

Thomas Whitmore, a sophomore from Shawnee, Okla., received the Horton Fine Arts Scholarship, awarded to one music student with academic merit and performance potential.

Haylee Dowler, a junior from Bixby, Okla., was awarded the Dr. Paul Hammond Music Scholarship, presented to a worthy music student.

For information about studying music at OBU, visit the OBU Music Web page.