St. Francis Music Center has several special scholarships that have been set up by families to recognize the talents and dedication of music students and to encourage them to continue their musical studies. Students are chosen for these awards based on teacher recommendation, participation in musical activities and auditions.
The highest honor at the Music Center is the Sister Justina Bieganek Award. Sister Justina was a part of the Music Center from its very beginnings in 1979. She retired at the age of 99. This year there are two recipients. Gemma Becker from Flensburg auditioned on piano and Loretta Mrosla from Bowlus auditioned on violin. Both received high marks on their auditions and exceptional recommendations from their teachers.
Also awarded were the Sister Judine Cassidy Scholarships to Vanessa Burggraff from Royalton, Oliver Derry from Little Falls, Adeline Ellingson from Long Prairie, Bernadette Rodin from Cushing and Ava Schieffert from Little Falls. Sister Judine was the beloved principal at St. Francis High School from 1960 to 1977.
Sean Derry from Little Falls was awarded the Lyseng Family Scholarship, which was set up by Vicki and Greg Spofford in honor of Vicki’s parents, both lifelong music educators.
Emmett Gainey from Little Falls was awarded the Greg Tetrault Memorial Scholarship. Greg was a lifelong educator and involved in many other school and community activities, positively affecting the lives of many, many young people. He was a strong and enthusiastic supporter of St. Francis Music Center.
The winner of the LaVerne Bzdok Scholarship this year is Sunny Savard from Brainerd. LaVerne had a very successful polka and country music band, LaVerne and the Starlites, for many years. LaVerne always encouraged young musicians to join her band and gave them valuable musical experience. LaVerne’s Travel also sponsors a talent show every year to raise money for the food shelf.
St. Francis Music Center is a community school for the arts sponsored by the Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls, Minnesota. The Center offers lessons to people of all ages on most musical instruments and sponsors three orchestras, two choirs, dance classes, a brass ensemble, percussion ensembles, senior classes and more. The Music Center is open to everyone. For more information, visit its website at: www.sfmusiccenter.org or call (320) 632-0637.
