Press Release - MENC: The National Association for Music Education Announces Recipients of Third Annual Memorial Scholarships

MENC: The National Association for Music Education Announces Recipients of Third Annual Memorial Scholarships

Caitlin Merie Hurrey Memorial Scholarship Named in Memory of Budding Musician

RESTON, VA (June 30, 2006) -- Three recipients were named in the third annual Caitlin Merie Hurrey Memorial Scholarship awards, established as part of the Fund for the Advancement of Music Education (FAME) of the National Association for Music Education (MENC). 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 first recipient is Keely Murphy, the daughter of Vickie and Martin Murphy, of Owings, Maryland. An alumna of Huntingtown Elementary, two years behind Caitlin Merie Hurrey, Keely recently graduated from Northern High School. Ranked fourth in her class, with a GPA of 103.82%, Keely was also active in musical theater and chorus. Her counselor, Mark A. Hammersla, said, Keely™s teachers find her to be dependable, bright, diligent, organized, upbeat, and self-driven. Keely will attend the College of William and Mary to study Finance/Accounting.

The second recipient is Nia Rhein, the daughter of MENC members Pamela and Kevin Rhein, of Belgrade, ME. An accomplished all-around student and an avid vocalist, Nia plans to study Vocal Performance at Westminster Choir College of Rider University. In addition to participating in chorus, band, and theatre, Nia also maintained a 4.0 grade average at Messalonskee High School. Frank W. Brown, the English Department Chair at Nia™s school, said, Nia combines her admirable academic success with a gentleness of spirit and a sensitivity to the suffering of other people that have made her a valuable member of our community.

The third scholarship recipient is Jenni Ensign, a student at Arizona State University. Jenni studied instrumental music education and worked part time with the bands at Gilbert High School during the last school year. She plays French horn and is in high demand as a private teacher in the Phoenix area. Jenni is a dedicated member of her Collegiate MENC chapter, helping with fundraisers, conferences, lectures, and other chapter-sponsored events. ASU CMENC chapter advisor Jill M. Sullivan said, I was very impressed with her dedication and service to our chapter.

The Caitlin Scholarship Fund provides three scholarships each year. The first is awarded to a high school senior who is planning to attend an accredited college of university and has a personal connection to Huntingtown Elementary School (parent, student, family member, etc.). The next is awarded to a son or daughter of an MENC member who is planning to attend an accredited college or university. New this year is a professional grant awarded to a college senior and member of MENC™s Collegiate program.

I am delighted and very thankful to MENC for supporting Caitlin™s scholarship fund. This scholarship fund will honor Caitlin™s name and provide needed financial assistance to students for many years to come, says Earl Hurrey, Assistant Executive Director for Project Development and Programs at MENC and Caitlin™s father.

For more information on the Caitlin Merie Hurrey Scholarship Fund, or to make a donation, visit the web site.

For more information, call 1-800-336-3768, or visit www.menc.org.

MENC: The National Association for Music Education, the world's largest arts education organization, is the only association that addresses all aspects of music education. More than 120,000 members represent all levels of teaching from preschool to graduate school. Since 1907, MENC has worked to ensure that every student has access to a well-balanced, comprehensive, and high-quality program of music instruction taught by qualified teachers. MENC's activities and resources have been largely responsible for the establishment of music education as a profession, for the promotion and guidance of music study as an integral part of the school curriculum, and for the development of the National Standards for Arts Education.

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