Foundation Scholarships

Atherton, Branden Memorial Music

One scholarship per year shall be awarded to an outstanding UW-Eau Claire music education major from any of the Waukesha High Schools or Chippewa Falls. The recipient shall be selected by the music education faculty scholarship committee. Applicants must be planning to become music teachers and must be active participants and leaders in music and teaching, serve as positive role models for their peers and inspire those around them to higher levels of achievement. This scholarship may be renewed for additional years of study at UW-Eau Claire provided the recipient send a letter to the music education faculty scholarship committee requesting the scholarship be renewed and providing additional information on their activities and continued leadership as a music education major. Should there be a year where there are no music education students from any of the Waukesha High Schools or Chippewa Falls, the scholarship will not be awarded. It is the donors’ intent that the music education faculty view this scholarship as a resource to attract and retain more outstanding and qualified music education majors from these high schools.

Determined by the Department of Music and Theatre Arts.

Determined by the Department of Music and Theatre Arts.

Determined by the Department of Music and Theatre Arts.

Determined by the Department of Music and Theatre Arts.

The Chair of the scholarship selection committee shall notify the Chair of the Department of Music and Theatre Arts, who shall send a letter to the recipient. The Department Chair is also responsible for completing and submitting a “Scholarship Award Form” to the Financial Aid Office to inform them of the name of the award recipient.

Branden Atherton was an outstanding senior music education major and student leader when he was killed on his 24th birthday in the October 16, 2005, collision of a bus carrying Chippewa Falls High School marching band members, teachers, chaperones and family members. This scholarship was established through memorial gifts received as a tribute to Branden’s life and his role as a student leader who inspired those around him to great achievement. As a condition of accepting the Branden Atherton Memorial Music Scholarship, recipients are expected to write an acknowledgement letter and send it in care of the UW-Eau Claire Foundation.