UMC awards $20,475 in scholarships for the school year
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WILLIAMSPORT -- The Uptown Music Collective announced it awarded 13 scholarships for the non-profit school of music's 2023-2024 school year, totaling $20,475.
Funding was made possible through the generous donations of the local community, including both individual and corporate donors. Each of the 13 scholarships awarded will cover one full year at the school.
In its 23rd year of serving the local community, the Uptown Music Collective has stood by its promise to never turn away a deserving student due to financial reasons, a policy in place since its founding in 2000.
In its early days, teachers would accept students in need on a pro bono basis or the school would cover the expenses of the students’ lessons.
In 2009, the collective offered its first scholarship, The Alice Hileman Memorial Scholarship, which was created and funded by Hileman's daughter. That scholarship was soon followed by the Lew Gilberti Memorial Scholarship, created by family and friends in memory of local businessman/musician Lew Gilberti. The First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania is the steward of the Gilberti scholarship.
Six years ago, the Uptown Music Collective quintupled its scholarship offerings and formalized a new sliding-scale discount rate that allows it to help even more students in need.
Aside from the generous donations from individuals and local businesses, the financial aid being offered is the result of the school's highly successful Scholarship Fundraising Concert held every January at the Community Arts Center.
"Our scholarship program continues to grow with each year that passes," said Jared Mondell, UMC Assistant Executive Director. "We are so incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support this program continues to receive. We plan to continue to grow this program in the coming years with more merit- and needs-based scholarships to be able to help as many current and potential Collective students that may need assistance."
The Alice Hileman Memorial Scholarship has evolved since its creation and now is a merit-based scholarship awarded to a graduating collective senior. This year's Hileman Scholarship, under the stewardship of Alice's daughter, was awarded to UMC Senior Luke O'Brien, who is beginning his journey at Cornell University.
The 2023-2024 UMC scholarship recipients include Madaket Saner and Layla Strickland, Hudock Capital Group Scholarships; Logan Allen, Geisinger's Janet Weis Children's Hospital Scholarship; Caiden Scarfo, Blaise Alexander Family Dealerships Scholarship; Abigail Jamison, UPMC North Central Pa. Scholarship; Grace Godin, UPMC Health Plan Scholarship; Lewis Shaffer, Chartwell Hotels LLC Scholarship; Mackenzie Hakes, Kiessling Group of Janney Montgomery Scott Scholarship; Kana Nace, Angelina's Song Scholarship; Chase Cowden, Colonel's Community Scholarship, made possible by the UMC's partnership with the local KFC restaurant in Loyalsock Township; Brendan Kuriga, Uptown Music Collective Staff Scholarship; Gabreon Godin, the Lew Gilberti Memorial Scholarship under the stewardship of the First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania; and Rian Gephart, The Miller Family Scholarship in honor of Amanda Miller.
In the last 23 plus years, the Uptown Music Collective has grown from what many used to call "the best-kept secret in the Williamsport area" to one of the area's most highly respected, non-profit educational organizations. The school is dedicated to providing a well-rounded education to students of all ages, from children as young as 3 years old to retired adults and everyone in between. The Collective is known for its positive peer group, inspiring teachers, and a diverse multitude of performance opportunities.
Although the Collective is known for highly talented student performers, there is no previous experience needed to begin enrollment at the Collective. The Collective is set to begin its 2023 Fall Semester on Monday, Aug. 28.
There are currently openings for students of all levels who are looking for private instruction on drums, bass, guitar, piano, and vocals. The school feels strongly about the role of music in creating well-rounded, thoughtful young people, and works to establish characteristics, such as self-discipline and personal responsibility in each of its students through healthy habits like practice and self-control. Uptown Music Collective students consistently perform at high levels, not only musically, but also in their respective schools and as valuable members of other community organizations.
For more information about the Collective's Scholarship Program, Partnership Program, or the school in general, call 570-329-0888 or visit www.uptownmusic.org for more details.