Members of the local band Shiloh were pleased to present the sixth Jack Mace Musical Scholarship to Elkhart High School graduate Brittany Laza during a short ceremony Thursday at Palestine’s Reagan Park.
Laza has played trumpet horn for the Elkhart Middle School and EHS band for a total of seven years. She plans to attend the Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, La. to seek a degree in music education and become a band director.
“I think this is so great,” Laza said. “It is really a blessing to receive this scholarship. It will help a lot.”
Laza has achieved much as a band member at Elkhart schools. For the last three years she has served as the band’s drum major and has been honored with numerous band awards including All Region, All Area, and All State Band medals for the past several years.
Laza also has been in the top five of her class academically for the past three years.
Shiloh, a local country, blues and rock ‘n’ roll band formed in 1994, performs at many benefits, rodeos and festivals throughout East Texas.
To raise funds for the $500 scholarship, named in memory of Shiloh friend and fan Jack Mace, band members agreed to set aside a percentage from the proceeds of each show for the scholarship.
“Jack and Pauline did so much for us and have always been great supporters,” said band member John Morris. “We want to honor them both by presenting this scholarship to a worthy student.”
The scholarship is awarded to one senior at one school in the area each year and is given to a student who plans to pursue a career in the music field.
According to band member Tom Hubert, the band hopes the scholarship will serve as an example to other local bands.
“We enjoy being able to give back to the community in this way,” he said. “We hope that other bands will follow our lead and support this worthy cause.”
Other members of Shiloh include Larry Weber, Charlie Eubanks and Olan Wallace. Mace’s wife, Pauline Oliver-Mace was in attendance Thursday and presented the scholarship to Laza.
Laza is the daughter of Kerrie Laza and Linda Wooley.Labels: high school, scholarship, student loans |
