Salem-Keizer students receive Withnell music scholarships
Capi Lynn
The "Harold J. Withnell Music Scholarship" was presented to eight Salem-Keizer students on May 29, bringing the total awarded by the program since 1996 to $135,000.
The essay competition-based scholarship program is named in honor of Salem car dealer Dick Withnell's late father, a high school band teacher, and inspired by the movie "Mr. Holland's Opus."
The 2019 recipients, each receiving a $1,000 college scholarship, are:
Nathan Berry, trombone, Sprague
Abigail Butler, oboe, West Salem
Clayton Hall, trumpet, West Salem
Lisandro Valdez Hernandez, voice/clarinet, South Salem
Brandon Hilsabeck, voice, South Salem
Jackson Mowry, voice, West Salem
Abigail Wilson, alto saxophone/voice, West Salem
Hannah Wood, voice, West Salem
School election:Returns show Heyen, Chandragiri, Bethell leading in Salem-Keizer
The Withnells have been awarding the scholarships since 1996, when they sponsored multiple showings of the movie for 1,100 music students in Salem-Keizer School District.
After repeat showings in 1998, students were encouraged to write an essay on what "Mr. Holland's Opus" meant to them, with an opportunity to win $1,000 music scholarships to the college of their choice.
Additional criteria have been added over the years, but the essay and movie remain an integral part of the competition.
Most gratifying to the Withnell family is the fact that 15 past scholarship winners have returned to Salem-Keizer School District as music teachers.
More:Three Salem-Keizer students art to be featured in gambling awareness calendar
clynn@StatesmanJournal.com, 503-399-6710, or follow on Twitter @CapiLynn and Facebook @CapiLynnSJ.