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Post by marchingband1969 on Aug 18, 2014 12:32:43 GMT -5
Why dont students get scholarships? It doesn't add up...former band members dont have endowments that pay out scholarships? I read your question and I was stunned...I though everyone knew that 95% or more of the students that march in the A&T Marching Band don't get one dime in music/band scholarships! Now, like all A&T students on A&T's campus, a lot of those students get Pell Grants and other government financial assistance but no money for being in the band from the band or the University. Think about it this way, 95% or more of the band students are "walk-ons!" They volunteer to give their free time to perform for the A&T fans for free. Now for the other question you asked..."former band members don't have endowments that pay out scholarships?" Man, where have you been? As far as I know, there may be two or maybe three "endowed band scholarships" and one of them is mine. Former A&T Band members are just like the majority of A&T grads...they leave here and never send a dime back to help support scholarships or the University. I spend a lot of my time at games and other A&T events begging former band members and other alums to just give a little bit back to help the kids. I am always amazed to see former band members show up every year in their Alumni Band tee shirt, march in the Homecoming parade and never give a penny to support the band. And then they are the first to complain because they don't get in the Homecoming game free any more or reserved seats at the game for marching in the parade. By the way, the way Bethune Cookman, Jackson State, FAMU and Southern can march 300 and 400 band members is band scholarships and lots of money for expenses. Their band directors will show up at a high school on a recruiting trip and give out 5 or 6 "full band scholarships!" We cannot do that. By the way, Southern has over 200 "freshmen" in their band this year...and they ain't marching for free! The A&T Administration is doing all it can do to support the band but the University needs more money for scholarships in business and engineering too. So the only way the band is going to meet the needs for band scholarships is through alumni contributions. If you would like to help in this effort, email me a cfisher@thesalesinstitute.com and I'll send you more details on how to help.
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tony
Full Member
Posts: 153
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Post by tony on Aug 19, 2014 8:49:26 GMT -5
Now for the other question you asked..."former band members don't have endowments that pay out scholarships?" Man, where have you been? As far as I know, there may be two or maybe three "endowed band scholarships" and one of them is mine. What are those endowments, and how can we contribute? One thing we can do better is make it easier to give, and also publicize them among ourselves more. Also, I know the alumni band gives money directly to the band every year but just for financial reasons I wonder if it might be better in the long run to direct a portion of that money to the endowments...
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Post by marchingband1969 on Aug 19, 2014 14:13:42 GMT -5
There are lots of ways to give money to the band but they fall in 3 categories: 1. On-line through the A&T website, 2. Designation through the Annual Giving Campaign 3. Direct contributions to the band
If you give "on-line" or designate through your Annual Giving contribution, your contribution can be used for any and all band related expenses...travel expenses, meals, scholarships, equipment repairs, staffing, etc. My only problem with this form of contribution is that the University "may" look at these contributions and decide to divert the University's money to other areas at the University. Example: you may be saving money for your kids college education but your car breaks down and you use some of your kid's college fund to get it repaired. I'm not saying that is happening but it could.
I've chosen to use "direct contributions to the band to make sure my contributions go directly to band student's scholarships. I set up a fund through the A&T Foundation in 2011 called "Each One Reach One." All the money that comes into this fund is used by Dr. Ruff for "emergency scholarships." If a band or Golden Delight student comes up short on tuition, school or book money, rent or housing fees or meal plan, he can authorize them to go to financial aid and get funds out of the "Each One Reach One" fund. Over the past three years dozens of band members and Golden Delight have received emergency money.
Later this week I will get more details about various band endowments and how you can support them. I will also provide information about the Blue and Gold Band Boosters and their fundraising efforts for band student scholarships. But if you want to do something now, make a check out to "A&T Foundation" and in the MEMO line write: EORO and mail it to the A&T Foundation. That money will go directly to help some band member stay in school!
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@ProfBellamy
Official BDF member
Aggie Born, Aggie Bred
Posts: 764
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Post by @ProfBellamy on Aug 22, 2014 13:14:00 GMT -5
Video of the #BGMM in Holland Bowl during the Career Carnival on Monday 8/18 before classes began.
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