MGAMB Memorial Scholarship

 Great American Marching Band Memorial Scholarship

The Great American Marching Band Memorial Scholarship is established in honor of those whose dedication to the Great American Marching Band (GAMB) enhanced the lives of countless youth in their musical endeavors through the years. Persons memorialized in this scholarship worked tirelessly to ensure the success of the program to the benefit and enjoyment of participants. Devotion to the ideals of the GAMB and dedication to those principles highlight their lives and service to the organization. Those honored by this Scholarship are named and remembered as follows:

Dr. John Woods – Ohio State University; former Co-Director of the GAMB

Mr. John Potlunas – PA Band Director; GAMB Event Assistant

Mr. Jeff Rhoads – GAMB Event Assistant

Ms. Kristen Heckenrote – GAMB Administrative Assistant, Music Festivals & Tours Staff Member

Mr. Madison Argo - GA Band Director; GAMB Music Staff Instructor/Chaperone

The organizers of this scholarship established this award to celebrate the positive and impactful way these individuals served the GAMB, and to honor a graduating senior who embodies the attitude of service to others, as exhibited by those above.

Scholarship award amounts are to be determined and will be based upon the number of applications received, the amount of funds available for distribution, and the quality of submission. The criteria are as follows:

• Only graduating Seniors and past participants of the GAMB may apply
• Have an overall GPA of at least 3.0
• Must have been accepted to the college, university of his/her choice. Applicants will also be required to show evidence that he/she has applied or enrolled at a college or university. The applicant needs to be enrolled in a music-related field to qualify for this scholarship.
• Regularly participate in extra-curricular and community activities.
• Complete the application (link below) for the Great American Marching Band Memorial Scholarship.
• Essay Question- Write an essay of at least one page but no more than two pages in which you define what your involvement in music has meant to you in your life, and how you believe this activity has helped prepare you for the future. (Submit in the form of a pdf. Upload is available on the application form)
  

Scholarship awards will be sent directly to the recipient's college or university. Winners will be responsible to provide the requested information necessary to facilitate the transaction.

Deadline for essays must be submitted by April 15.  

You may access the application and submit your essay by clicking here. Applications and Essays will be submitted to Mr. Robert Mawyer, GAMB Scholarship Chair. If you have any questions, please email Robert at rwmawyer@comcast.net.

The winner(s) will be officially notified by phone or email with a formal announcement made by May 1.

The way we fund this memorial scholarship is to auction off one of the parade drum heads with all of the signatures of the students and staff of the MGAMB at the annual dinner/dance on Thanksgiving evening. A huge thank you to our bid winner for her generous bid for 2023, and to Remo for providing the custom made drum head for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.