Morrison, Katie

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eGrove (Univ. of Mississippi)

University of Mississippi eGrove University of Mississippi News 12-17-2013 Anonymous Gift Provides Competitive Edge for Recruiting Brass Players Katie Morrison Follow this and additional works at: https://egrove.olemiss.edu/umnews Recommended Citation Morrison, Katie, "Anonymous Gift Provides Competitive Edge for Recruiting Brass Players" (2013). University of Mississippi News. 661. https://egrove.olemiss.edu/umnews/661 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by eGrove. It has been accepted for inclusion in University of Mississippi News by an authorized administrator of eGrove. For more information, please contact egrove@olemiss.edu. Search this website … SearchChris Presley, a 2012 UM graduate and former drummajor of the Pride of the South Marching Band, isnamed as an honoree for eight new band scholarshipsfor polished brass players.Anonymous Gift Provides Competitive Edge forRecruiting Brass PlayersNew scholarship will help deserving students participate in band and earn theirUM degreeDECEMBER 17, 2013 BY KATIE MORRISONOXFORD, Miss. – An anonymous gift of$100,000 has been presented to the Universityof Mississippi Pride of the South Marching Bandin honor of Chris Presley, the band’s drum majorin 2010-2012. A Batesville native, Presleygraduated in 2012.Besides his leadership and service throughmusic, Presley was an Ole Miss Women’sCouncil Scholar, a 2011-2012 Campus Favorite,recipient of the Marcus Guinn Spirit Award, onChancellor’s Honor Roll and participated ingroups including Gamma Beta Phi, theAcademic Affairs Committee of the Associated Student Body, Omicron Delta Kappa, Mortar Board andIncreasing Minority Access to Graduate Education.“I am grateful for being a member of the Pride of the South Marching Band, as it gave me the opportunityto develop as a true leader on campus,” said Presley, who is completing his master’s in highereducation and student affairs administration at the University of South Carolina.“At Ole Miss, I was part of a family of 300 who shared our love for playing music. I was also blessed toestablish lifelong relationships with both the staff and band members from different backgrounds. Asdrum major for the Pride of the South, I was able to achieve my goal of bringing more positiverecognition and respect to our band from students, faculty, administrators and alumni.”This new Polished Brass Band Scholarship Fund creates eight $3,000 scholarships to be awarded forfour years beginning in the 2013-14 academic year. It has allowed David Willson, director of bands, torecruit incoming freshmen or community college transfer students from Mississippi who excel at thetrumpet, trombone, baritone or tuba and who exhibit strong leadership qualities.“We are thrilled about this generous gift to the Ole Miss Band,” Willson said. “The donor family hasbeen supportive for many years, coming to fundraisers and concerts. They are big fans.“We hope this interest will motivate others to help us endow scholarship funds to maintain a strongmargin of excellence against our peer institutions.”Also being honored by these scholarships are Betsy and Wade Creekmore and Jan and LawrenceFarrington of Jackson, Mary Sharp and Jim Rayner of Oxford and Amanda and Edward Wilson ofBirmingham. These alumni are also longtime supporters of the Pride of the South Marching Band, enjoyfriendships with Chris Presley and appreciate the work of Willson and William DeJournett, director of themarching band.The 2013 edition of the band is the largest in its history. Founded in 1928, the initial marching bandused instruments, uniforms and equipment donated by the National Guard. Not until 1934 did the RebelBand own full dress uniforms, purchased by funds solicited by the general student body.“The normal fan does not realize how much a band student has to give of themselves,” Willson said.“Ninety-five percent provide their own instrument, have spent years getting the skills they need to servethe university and work many hours in all kind of weather to show up and work on game day. Fans’recognition of our students is the best feedback we get, and a good scholarship is key in recruiting andretaining band students for Ole Miss.”Presley echoed Willson’s statement and agreed that this recognition has reciprocal benefit.Read the story …Read the story …Follow us on socialCampus BriefsDonations Sought for 25th AnnualBooks and Bears ProgramOXFORD, Miss. – The University ofMississippi is asking the community tohelp spread a little joy this holiday seasonby donating to the 25th annual Books andBears program. Donations such as toys,books, dolls, bicycles and other children’splay items are being accepted throughDec. 14. All donations will be collected andsortedMore Posts from this CategoryThank You To OurDonorsMississippi Excellence in CoachingFellowship Aims to Build LeadersOXFORD, Miss. – Twenty-five inauguralrecipients of the Mississippi Excellence inCoaching Fellowship – a program hostedby the University of Mississippi School ofEducation in partnership with theMississippi Association of Coaches andthe Mississippi High School ActivitiesAssociation – are expected to increasetheir impact on student-athletes and theircommunities. The coaching fellowshipMore Posts from this CategoryOle Miss In the NewsClarion-Ledger: New EssayCollection Tells the Story ofMeredith’s EnrollmentEssays celebrate 60th anniversary ofJames Meredith’s enrollment at Universityof Mississippi By Lauren Rhoades Oct. 1marks the 60th anniversary of JamesMeredith’s 1962 enrollment atthe University of Mississippi as theschool’s first African-American student.News Releases UM COVID-19 Video Gallery University Communications Ole Miss Homepage Ole Miss News BlogFacebookTwitterLin edInEmailCopyLinkSMSPrintFriendlySharFacebookTwitterInstagramLinkedInYouTubeChannel“Being honored by this large contribution to the band helps me realize the impact I made on the OleMiss community at large,” he said. “It lets me know that someone was watching and noticed mypassion for the Pride of the South. … I will forever be indebted to Ole Miss and the band for the amazingexperience and will cherish the memories for a lifetime.“Now as an Ole Miss alumnus, I have seen the positive impact alumni have made on our institution, andI have made it my goal to continue to recruit students, donate and raise money for the band as I didwhile at Ole Miss.”The 2013 Polished Brass Band Scholarship recipients are Brandon Boyd of McComb; David Cuevas,Pass Christian; Charles Keveryn, Ridgeland; Donnie McGee, Oxford; Matthew Moore, Fulton; SarahNichols, Amory; Matthew Recker, Olive Branch; and Kejair Sparks, Southaven.Ron Wilson, director of development for liberal arts, conveyed the need for such scholarships.“As costs for college attendance rise, students are sometimes forced to choose between participating inenriching activities such as band or taking on additional employment,” he said. “Scholarship supportmakes it possible for students to fully realize their potential, earn degrees and participate in programsthat augment the Ole Miss experience for us all.”Besides  scholarships, the donation also creates the Band Faculty Support Fund, which will providesupport for faculty development at the director’s discretion.“This gift will enable Director Willson to provide his faculty needed support and attract the best student-musicians to our supremely talented Pride of the South Marching Band,” Chancellor Dan Jones said.“We have done an excellent job showing our band’s strength on the football field this year, but moreimportantly, sending the message of what it means to truly be an Ole Miss Rebel. This gift will makethat message louder and clearer.”The Polished Brass Band Scholarship Fund and the Band Faculty Support Fund are open to receivegifts from individuals and organizations. Anyone can contribute by sending a check with the fund notedto the University of Mississippi Foundation, P.O. Box 249, University, MS 38677; contacting RonWilson at 662-915-1755 or jrwilso3@olemiss.edu; orvisiting http://www.umfoundation.com/makeagift.FILED UNDER: ALUMNI NEWS, APPS-ALUMNI & FRIENDS, APPS-STUDENTS, APPS-TOP NEWS, COLLEGE OFLIBERAL ARTS, FEATURED NEWS, HOMETOWN NEWS, NEWS RELEASES, UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPIFOUNDATION TAGGED WITH: ALUMNI, GENERAL NEWS, OLE MISS BAND, SCHOLARSHIPS, STUDENT NEWSRead the story …“James Meredith: Breaking the Barrier,” acollection of essays edited by UMprofessor of journalism Kathleen Wickham,honors this historic milestone withMore Posts from this CategoryRetu rn  to  to p  o f  p a ge Copyright © 2022 · Th e Un iversity  o f  M ississ ip p i

Anonymous Gift Provides Competitive Edge for Recruiting Brass Players

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Anonymous Gift Provides Competitive Edge for Recruiting Brass Players

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