The Caitlin Merie Hurrey Memorial Scholarship Fund has been established as part of the Fund for the Advancement of Music Education (FAME) of The National Association for Music Education (MENC). Caitlin Merie Hurrey is the daughter of MENC Deputy Executive Director Earl Hurrey. 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, sing in the chorus, and wanted to be a teacher when she grew up.
The Caitlin Scholarship Fund provides four scholarships each year.
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Caitlin Merie Hurrey MENC Scholarship
Awarded to a son or daughter of an MENC member who is planning to attend an accredited college or university. Deadline for submissions is May 31. Download the application form
McKenna Marie Klontz of Arlington, Virginia, is the 2009 recipient of the Caitlin Merie Hurrey MENC Scholarship. McKenna is the daughter of Mary-Hannah and Paul Klontz. She graduated from Washington-Lee High School with a 4.1 GPA. McKenna’s life in high school revolved around her music activities. She was a piccolo player in the Symphonic and Marching Bands, completing her senior year as the drum major and student conductor of these groups. McKenna participated in the Virginia Governor’s School for the Performing Arts as a singer, she was a member and student conductor of the Madrigal Singers, and played the lead role of Maria in The Sound of Music. She was also active in her church youth choir, the Arlington Fine Arts Apprentice Program, and was selected for the very prestigious National Honors Choir of the American Choral Directors Association. McKenna will attend the Ohio State University as a music education major. Congratulations, McKenna!
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Caitlin Merie Hurrey Collegiate Professional Achievement Scholarship
Awarded to one MENC collegiate senior for professional development. The 2009 award is presented in memory of Shannon Kane. To learn more about Shannon and her accomplishments as a four-year Collegiate member and graduate student in music education, read the news story. Submissions are processed through CMENC chapter advisor; deadline is February 28. Download the application form
The 2009 Caitlin Hurrey Collegiate Professional Achievement Scholarship recipient is Audrey Rome of Williston Park, New York. Audrey is a senior music education major at Long Island University/C.W. Post Campus. Audrey was a very active and community-minded member of her Collegiate MENC chapter. As its most recent President, she initiated new outreach programs, such as Music: Home and Beyond—a program for home-schooled students, and Rainbowtunes, a PreK–16 partnership program in which student teachers teach music to children with special needs in local school districts. A prolific fundraiser, Audrey masterminded several fun and creative events which benefited General Music on a Cart—music in school districts with limited music budgets. These fundraisers helped to purchase Boomwhackers, method books, recorders, and handheld percussion instruments. Audrey will begin her student teaching next semester, and will no doubt be an asset to any school district with the good fortune to hire her!
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Caitlin Merie Hurrey Military Scholarship
Awarded to a high school senior or college student who is the son or daughter of an active-duty member of one of the U.S. Military musical ensembles. Deadline for submissions is May 31. Download the application form
The recipient of the 2009 Caitlin Merie Hurrey Military Scholarship is William Tortolano of Alexandria, Virginia. He is the son of SMSgt Bill and Mary Ann Tortolano, a U.S. Air Force Band member, and a Suzuki string teacher, respectively. Will is a student at Boston University majoring in Music and Film Studies with a GPA of 3.33. Will is a cellist who has worked with young musicians at the New England Music Camp and the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra summer camp for the past two summers. He is an active performer, playing in three chamber music groups, as well as appearing professionally with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. This summer, he is with Windborne Productions learning recording production, and transcribing and arranging original material into music for full orchestra. His career plans include music composition for film and television and recording engineering. Congratulations, Will!
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Caitlin Merie Hurrey Huntingtown Scholarship
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.). Deadline for submissions is May 31. Download the application form
The winner of the 2009 Caitlin Merie Hurrey Huntingtown Scholarship is Molly Wilkerson. Molly is the daughter of Dale and Sandra Wilkerson of Huntingtown, Maryland. She graduated from Huntingtown High School with a 95.18 GPA. While a member of the National Honor Society and the Student Government Association for 2 years apiece, she also contributed to her school through her participation in the Huntingtown High School Chorale, Concert Choir, and Chamber Choir. Molly was selected to the All-County and Tri-County choirs for 2 years, as well as 3 years in the Maryland All-State Honors Chorus, MENC’s prestigious 2009 All Eastern Chorus, and the Washington Post Music and Dance Scholarship Awards. She has also shown leadership in her church youth choir, Voices In Praise, for 8 years. Molly has played both lead and supporting roles in Huntingtown High School theatre productions. She will attend Montclair State University as a music therapy major. Congratulations, Molly!
For more information on the scholarships, please contact Susan Lambert at susanl@menc.org.
To make a donation, make checks payable to the "Caitlin Merie Hurrey Fund" and mail to MENC, Attn: Caitlin Merie Hurrey Memorial Scholarship Fund, 1806 Robert Fulton Drive, Reston, VA 20191. Those donating $40 or more to the Fund will receive a limited edition print of Flight of the Dancer by artist Dean J. Baer. Questions? Contact Jane Balek.
