The Ruth Petersen Music Scholarship

General Scholarship Requirements:

1. Students must be in good standing with and be eligible for graduation from Hough High School at the end of the academic year in which they apply for the scholarship. 

2. Students must be planning to attend post-secondary education immediately after graduation (not including the summer following graduation.) An acceptance letter, in the student's name, from an accredited community college, 4 year college or university will serve as proof of continuing education (required upon granting of the scholarship.)

3. Students must have participated in band for all four years of high school (a minimum of their full senior year in the Hough Band if they are a transfer student).  

4. Students must have represented the band program in a positive manner. 

5. Students must submit a complete application prior to the deadline. Applications will be submitted to the Student Services Office no later than the end of the school day on the due date. 

6. Incomplete applications or applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

7. Financial need is not a consideration for this scholarship. A check will be presented to the student and made out to his/her school of choice. 

The Scholarship Committee: 

The Scholarship Committee will exist as a standing committee within the Band Booster organization. Their duties will include publicizing the scholarship, collecting the applications from Student Services and preparing them for the judges (who will not see the names of the applicants), organizing a Judging Panel, as well as fundraising/soliciting donations and keeping the Booster Board apprised of its operations. The Committee shall not include a parent or guardian of a senior band student. 

The Scholarship Judging Panel and Judging Criteria: 

The Judging Panel will consist of three members who have no relation to applicants, members of the Band Boosters or parents/guardians of the applicants. Judges will typically be drawn from 1.) the Bailey’s Glen Neighborhood Association since they have demonstrated a strong interest in supporting our band program since its inception, 2.) a Hough High School staff member and 3.) a band alumni parent who has no current students at Hough High School and no known connection to any senior eligible to apply.  The judges will not see the names of the applicants during the judging process and they will use the following criteria to judge applications and choose scholarship recipients: 

• The applicant lists specific band programs they have participated in (such as marching band, United Sound, jazz band, leadership positions within any of the bands, etc.) The number of band activities alone will not raise or lower a student’s chances of winning the scholarship. 

• The applicant has demonstrated what they gained personally through participation in the Hough Band program. 

• The applicant has demonstrated many of the characteristics intended to be recognized by this scholarship. 

• The applicant demonstrates a desire to continue their musical participation into their post secondary years and describes this in their essay. 

Directions for Applications

1. Once you have read through the requirements to apply, please copy and paste the questions below into another document. 

2. Create a cover page with the following information: your name, email address, and student ID number. Judges will not see your cover page. 

3. Review the judging criteria before completing your essay. 

4. Applications will be accepted March 1, 2023 to no later than the end of the school day on Friday, March 28, 2024. Please email your completed applications to Ms. Hunt in the Student Services office at: heathern.hunt@cms.k12.nc.us. You MUST put your name and “Band Scholarship” in the subject line of the email! 

Application Questions

Please copy and paste these questions into another document. This new document will become your application. 

Create a cover page with your name, email address and student ID number and put “Band Scholarship” in the subject line of your email to Ms. Hunt at heathern.hunt@cms.k12.nc.us 

Put your student number only at the top of each page containing your answers so that the judges do not see your name.

1. Describe your involvement in Band activities/classes, including any leadership positions held. For example: Freshman year - marching band, concert band. Sophomore year: marching band, symphonic band, United Sound. Junior year: wind ensemble, section leader in marching band. Senior Year: United Sound, wind ensemble, etc. (include all band activities at your former school if you did not attend Hough all four years.) 

2. Write a short essay (no more than 750 words) and include details on the following topics (you can include other relevant details as well): 

• What did you hope to gain by participating in the band program in high school and what have you actually gained as a result of participating for all four years in band? 

• How have you demonstrated the traits intended to be recognized by this scholarship? (See the Scholarship Mission Statement above.) Describe the traits that apply most to you and give examples.

• What are your plans to participate in a band program after high school? (marching, concert band, participate for fun or major in music, etc.) What do you hope to gain by your continued involvement in music in a college/university setting?

Questions may be directed to the Hough Band Boosters by emailing the Scholarship Committee Chairperson or the Band Booster President at president@houghhsband.org