Schley High student receives first program scholarship

AMERICUS —  Mark Laughlin, D.M.A., associate professor of music at Georgia Southwestern State University, received a $400 grant from the Georgia Music Teachers Association (GMTA). Laughlin was awarded the grant at the GMTA State Conference at Agnes State College on Nov. 5.
The grant will fund a scholarship for the GSW Department of Music’s Community Music Program (CMP). The CMP provides music programs of study for children and adults in the community and offers private and group classes in piano, voice, winds and guitar.
“I was extremely excited to be one of four recipients out of over 40 applicants throughout Georgia to receive a GMTA grant,” said Laughlin, who is also the coordinator of the Community Music Program. “I will use the grant as a piano scholarship for one of my students in the community music program.”
The CMP scholarship recipient is Ginny Calhoun of Ellaville.
Calhoun is a sophomore at Schley County High School, where she maintains a 4.0 GPA while taking AP courses. She is extremely involved both in school as a member of the track team, student council and various other student organizations and in her community, which includes regular piano performances at Magnolia Manor and activities with her church. She is also a student and competition team member at Titan Karate Academy in Americus. Calhoun has been a student of the CMP for two and a half years and studies the piano.
“I am extremely honored that Dr. Laughlin nominated me for the GMTA grant, and I am so appreciative that I was chosen as the recipient,” said Calhoun. “Playing the piano is an important part of my life, and I am thankful for the grant that will assist me in continuing my lessons.”
The scholarship will allow Calhoun to continue her piano studies through CMP tuition free for five months.
For more information about the GSW Community Music Program, contact Mark Laughlin at mark.laughlin@gsw.edu