Some of the TouchStone Arts Council college scholarship recipients:

Ann Govig. 1995

A TouchStone Arts Council scholarship recipient, Ann attended the

University of Iowa, receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance.

Subsequently, affiliated with the DanceWorks Performing Arts Center in the

Twin Cities, offering dance opportunities for more than 800 students,

discovering dance as a form of recreation, self-expression, and as art form.

Ann also performed professionally with the Ray Terrill Dance Group, based

in the Twin Cities. During 2009-2010, Ann resided in Japan, with her

husband, and is now continuing with her profession in dance.

Jennifer Laughlin. 1995

Nathan Baker-Trinity. 1996

Pastor Nathan Baker-Trinity, a TouchStone Arts Council scholarship

recipient, graduated from Valparaiso University (VU), earning a Bachelor

of Music Performance as a major, with emphasis on the trombone and

vocal (tenor). The VM music performance curriculum provides stage

& concentrated studio experiences in musicianship, theory, repertoire,

composing, arranging, improvising, history, and multi-arts collaborating.

Nathan also studied at VU Christ College with its intensive study

of philosophy, history, literature texts, philosophy, religion,

plus creating dramatic and musical expression.

Nathan sang with the University Chorale, the 48-voice choral literature of

all eras ensemble, which tours, performs, and records, throughout the

US & Germany. Nathan won the VU Concerto Competition, playing

the alto trombone. The VU Chorale, and the VU Johann Sebastian Bach

Institute Choir, has been reviewed by the American Organist as offering

"flawless diction, impeccable intonation rich and stunning."

Pastor Nathan Baker-Trinity assists with the spiritual needs of Evangelical

Lutheran Church members in Minnesota's Red River Valley. He assisted

with the nation-wide introduction of a revised Lutheran hymnal, which

promulgates that in music for worship,the people's song is central and the

voice is the primary instrument, with an emphasis on melody as well as

singable harmony and rhythm. And Nathan rejoins in the great

joy of hearing people sing together, especially in worship,

no matter what their musical ability.

> Nathan recommends students pursue post-secondary education

in the fine arts, as a major or minor, or at least be active in the

performing or visual arts, as the principles one learns can be

used in many careers, as he is applying in pastoral outreach.


>Nathan reflects that some of the finest musicians with whom he

associates, majored in engineering and the sciences.


> Pastor Nathan Baker-Trinity evinces benefits of participation

in the fine arts, such as vocal and instrumental music,

enriches one from youth into retirement age.

Lori Jones. 1996

Aaron Tebrinke. 1998

A TouchStone Arts Council scholarship recipient, Aaron earned a BS

in Commercial Art from Missouri Western State University (MWSU),

emphasizing computer graphic design and journalism. Integral parts of the

degree program include studio and historical-critical studies. The former

studies provide access to media and techniques, with opportunities through

experiential education and applied learning thru internship and practicum

experience. The latter studies deal with artistic styles, movements,

and aesthetic problems in art, placing them in historic perspective.

At MWSU, Aaron received numerous fine arts scholarships, exhibited in

galleries throughout the region, receiving several awards for journalistic

illustration, photography, page layout, graphic design and served as the

photography editor for the MWSU tabloid, The Griffon News. Additionally,

Aaron was a caricature artist at Kansas City's Worlds of Fun, and studied

art history in Italy-Rome, Florence, and Pompeii. Upon graduation,

Aaron entered the publishing industry as an illustrator, graphic designer,

prepress illustrator, page layout designer, advertisement designer, freelance

journalist, photographer, and held various manufacturing positions.

Expanding upon those talents serving the publishing industry, Aaron is

an AmeriCorps Geographic Information System Technician, working with

the Illinois Institute of Rural Affairs, Cass County, City of Beardstown,

and Overall Economic Development Commission entities.

Utilizing his knowledge of computer illustration programs and journalism

experience, Aaron collaborates on economic development and quality of

life and safety initiatives, such as Illinois Emergency Management Agency

assessments, FEMA levee certification processes, disaster pre-planning

& mitigation data compilation, Enterprise Zones and TIF maps,

and Beardstown Ilinois Business Profile databases facilitating

business development and retainment.

To students matriculating in the fine arts,
Aaron offers some suggestions:

>Pad your education with science, math, and English.


> Understand language & communicating with people, for the greater good.

> Try everything you can while in school. The path of life will send

you in directions you can not plan for and you must have a well-

rounded background to creatively express yourself with your

day job if you do not end up being the next Michelangelo.

> Finding an expert in your field to mentor you is key to success.

> Market your best talents and serve people in need of your talents.

> Finding a niche where you can use your creative talents

is the only way you can make a living. Although, being

a successful artist is not about making money.

Aubrey Wagner. 1998

A TouchStone Arts Council scholarship recipient, Aubrey attended Iowa

State University, receiving a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts with an emphasis

in Visual Studies. Her main interests and areas of study were fine arts,

graphic design and photography. Her successful four years at ISU included

accomplishments such as being selected for a juried art show/magazine

feature called Sketch ( her artwork ) and being picked to oversee a

childrens' art camp at Octagon Center for the Arts in Ames.

Upon graduating in a tough job market, her design degree led to a six-year

career in the interior design field. Aubrey worked for two flooring

showrooms and a prominent interior designer; after the birth of her

first child she now happily raises her daughter at home. In 2010, Aubrey

Wagner-Stuart returned to her love of photography and is running her own

photography and fine arts business from home as well. Aubrey has found

it is challenging to get a small business going, but she loves being

able to create art again, work for herself and work with people!

In another tough economy, she is happily seeing measures of success!

Aubrey's advice to students planning to matriculate in the fine arts:

> Do what you love, but find a way to make a living doing it!

> Her interior design career happened because she was willing

to explore all the job opportunities available that were

even remotely related to her college degree.

> Enjoy every moment of those years, which will be

remembered for fun times, all of your life!

> Try new activities, clubs, and classes while in college.

The moment Aubrey's classes and lectures were starting to get mundane,

she joined a club on-campus and an art class off-campus.

The change of pace and scenery enabled her to have a renewed

excitement for her on-campus fine arts classes!

Charity Crawford. 1998
Ryan Ehmke. 1998
Sarah Hays. 1999

Justin Hossle. 2000

A TouchStone Arts Council scholarship recipient, Justin attended the

University of Northern Iowa, studying theatre curriculum such as creativity

and performance, practicum, stagecraft, scenic, lighting, costumes, acting,

playscript analysis & interpretation, and especially his passion of stage

management. Majoring in Theatre, Justin received a Bachelor of Arts,

subsequently freelancing as a stage manager, connecting with

theatres such as Shakespeare & Company in the Berkshire region

of western Massachusetts, the Caldwell Theatre in south Florida,

and now stage manager at the Twin Cities' Guthrie Theater.

The Guthrie Theater, itself a Tony Award winner, was founded on the

belief that Broadway theatre atmosphere was conducive neither to

producing the great works of literature, nor cultivating artists' talents,

nor nourishing the audience. The Guthrie's resident acting company

performs the classics in rotating repertory, on three theatre stages, in

a dramatic venue overlooking the Mississippi River and Saint Anthony Falls.

Justin assists with Guthrie productions such as the annual Charles Dickens'

Christmas Carol, and those of Pulitzer Prize drama winner, Tony Kushner.

Now an Actors' Equity Association member, Justin thanks contributors to

the TouchStone Arts Council scholarship: "I was so pleased to receive

the TouchStone scholarship. It has helped me greatly on

my journey to becoming a theater professional."

Stacey Heuer. 2000
Dana Smith. 2000

Jessica Cooper. 2001

A TouchStone Arts Council scholarship recipient, Jessica received

a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Bellevue University, majoring in

graphic design - a multidisciplinary program to develop creative

visualization, problem-solving & critical thinking skills, including drawing,

print and web design, digital illustration, typography, and photography.

Jessica utilized her professional training as part of a team at

Werner Enterprises, enhancing corporate logistics identity,

branding, marketing, and visual communication projects.

She looks forward to re-entering the graphic design business community,

using creative processes which combines art and

technology to communicate ideas.

Sarah Crismon. 2001

Mindy Docker. 2002

A TouchStone Arts Council scholarship recipient, Mindy Docker majored

in vocal music at Northwest Missouri State University, earning a Bachelor

of Science in Education. Northwest vocal music students participate in

award-winning choral ensembles such as Tower Choir which makes

nation-wide performance tours, University Chorale , and

The Celebration/Madraliers Choral, a premier choir/madrigal group.

Mindy now facilitates internal motivation and self-discipline of K-12 vocal

music students in the Corning Iowa Community Schools, and in the process,

winning "All-State" choral recognition. She instills in her students that

comprehensive preparation and practice is a key for a successful music

career, and even if music is an avocation, the only musical work of value

is quality work. By learning from multiple sets of music faculty, and

philosophical - educational perspectives, students and professionals benefit

by acquiring a richer depth of knowledge and experiences.

Mindy emulates that approach, as a virtuoso clarinet performer in the

Northwest Symphonic Band, and the Instrumental Ensemble Concert Band

of Southwestern Community College - School for Music Vocations (SMV).

SMV hosts music festivals, with performers from across Europe and the

U.S., and produces/releases CDs showcasing innovative and skilled talent.

A fundamental goal of SMV is to impart a pedagogy grounded in the

knowledge that education is more a process of learning to see and

think clearly and to understand relationships, than merely

a transfer of information from professor to student.

See http://theschoolformusicvocations.com.

> Mindy suggests that when undertaken passionately, the pursuit of musical

competence provides a mirror for understanding & self-examination.

Emily Schmid. 2002

A TouchStone Arts Council scholarship recipient, Emily Schmid attended

University of Kansas, earning a Bachelor of Music Education, majoring in

Music Therapy (MT-BME). Music Therapy, a health profession, utilizes

clinical and evidence-based music interventions to accomplish goals

within a therapeutic relationship, addressing physical, emotional, cognitive,

academic, communication, and social needs of individuals. Emily,

a Board Certified therapist, breaks down the walls of silence and

affliction of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia,

Down syndrome, depression, eating disorders, autism,

developmental disabilities, and mental retardation.

Whether in clinics, schools, hospitals, or home-based settings, she utilizes

music to help clients develop life skills, becoming capable and functioning

members of society. Through musical involvement such as singing,

music improvisation, receptive listening, lyric discussion, or imagery,

Emily motivates clients, eliciting responses often beyond

that which physical & speech therapists obtain.

With musical involvement in this therapeutic context, clients' abilities are

strengthened and transferred to other areas of their lives. Emily is

also pursuing a masters degree in infant and early childhood

development, extending her expertise with music therapy to

premature infants, ensuring they develop appropriately.

Emily relates: "I love being a music therapist and I thank TouchStone Arts

Council for my scholarship that helped me be able to answer this call"

Click on http://www.musictherapy.org

for more on the benefits of music as therapy.

Amanda Davidson. 2002

A TouchStone Arts Council scholarship recipient, Amanda Davidson studied

(2002 - 05) music performance and music education at the University of

Nebraska at Omaha and subsequently (2006-07) in Savannah GA

at Armstrong Atlantic State University (Armstrong).

Music education majors at Armstrong complete at least 100 semester

hours of curriculum such as applied music, functional piano,

solo & ensemble performances, music theory and history, conducting,

and music education pedagogy. Additionally, students complete tracks

such as choral, instrumental, specialty & pedagogical courses,

professional education and internships/student teaching.

Graduation applicants must satisfy the Georgia Assessments for the

Certification of Educators which are criterion-referenced, objective-based

assessments designed to measure a candidate's knowledge and skills

in relation to an established standard rather than in relation

to the performance of other candidates. Amanda earned a

Bachelor of Science in Music Education, Magna Cum Laude.

Upon graduation, Amanda taught elementary music to 620 youths in

a P-5 school and directed the Elementary Chorale. She will return

to the elementary music classroom when her child enters school, and

continues to perform in venues from churches to local orchestras.

Jenny Dunbar. 2002

A TouchStone Arts Council scholarship recipient, Jenny earned a Music

Bachelor of Arts from the University of Northern Iowa; subsequently

performing volunteer service in church organizations. Her professional

musical stewardship is exemplified by solo and group performances such

as with the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood California.

Click on http://www.fpch.org/music/music-samples

to listen to choir and organ music.

Additionally, Jenny shares her musical gifts through worship planning

and conducting during worship services, and engaged as event keynote

speaker and musical entertainer. She is admitted into the Master of Social

Work degree program at KU, continuing to participate in choral

presentations, plus acting in Lawrence Kansas community theatre.

Sara Gilbert. 2004

A TouchStone Arts Council scholarship recipient, which included a

Lori Portz Memorial contribution, Sara attended Drake University,

earning a Bachelor of Arts with a minor in vocal music from the

Department of Music, and a major in public relations from the

School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Sara participated for four years with the Drake Choir touring ensemble.

During a 2008 tour of Italy and Austria, she sang in St. Peter's Basilica

in Rome, Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi (Italy), Salzburg Cathedral,

St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna, and Melk Abbey in Austria.

Listen to excerpts from The Drake University Choir:

http://www.drake.edu/artsci/Music_Dept/ensembles/drakechoir.html

Sara notes that while vocal music activities require significant amounts

of practice and perseverance, rewards are great, including the social

interaction with faculty and student artists from around the country,

engaged in fine arts activities at Drake.

Dan Cross. 2005

A TouchStone Arts Council scholarship recipient, Dan will be graduating

from Iowa State University, majoring (Bachelor of Science) in Mechanical

Engineering, and minoring (Bachelor of Music Voice) in Music.

He is an active member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia (Upsilon Chi chapter)

fraternity ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phi_Mu_Alpha_Sinfonia ),

which emphasizes the development of men and their art, not for the sake

of art itself, but as a means of enriching the lives of others. To that end,

Chapters sing at hospitals and retirement homes, sponsor concerts and

choral festivals, campus sings, engage in ensembles ranging from big

bands to barbershop quartets, commission new works, and take part

in a variety of other social and musical initiatives. Dan is advancing

the cause of the fine arts as an advocate in the support of

musical arts in addition to his vocal music performances.

As Sinfonians have embraced since their founding in 1898:

The possibilities for participation in musical activities are limited only

by the boundaries of imagination, desire, and commitment.

SueAnn Crouse. 2005

A TouchStone Arts Council scholarship recipient, SueAnn graduated from

Northwest Missouri State University, obtaining a Bachelor of Science,

majoring in Elementary Education and minoring in Early Childhood

Education. Her curriculum included classes in teaching and implementing

visual arts, vocal & instrumental music, and dance in the classroom,

to enhance student learning. Throughout SueAnn's college years,

she was mentored by master teachers at the Horace Mann Laboratory

School,founded in 1906, providing exemplary learning experience

to children, pre-service clinical teaching initiatives,

and educational research and development.

SueAnn recognizes the importance of providing opportunities for

students to act and create whenever possible - to expand and grow as

anartist, no matter what the fine arts medium. She is building upon

her experience in elementary teaching, community theatre and choir

involvement, engaging and encourage students of all ages,

in Southwest Iowa and Southeast Nebraska venues,

to seek and discover opportunities in the fine arts.

As SueAnn expresses: " Keep singing, playing, acting, and creating! "

Rachel Fehring. 2005

A TouchStone Arts Council scholarship recipient, Rachel earned a

Bachelor of Science in Education and Human Services, endorsed in English

and Language Arts, with high distinction, from the University of Nebraska.

Active in UNL School of Music vocal ensembles, Rachel associated with the

nationally recognized University Singers, performing works from the

13^th century to contemporary, in venues such as Carnegie Hall,

and Music Educators National Conferences. Their acclaimed performances

allows listeners to focus on the music, the marriage between lyric and line,

the message, the performer/musician, and the art.

Jessica Weddle. 2005

Jake Norris. 2006

Jake, a TouchStone Arts Council scholarship recipient, and 2010

graduate of DePaul University, earning a Sociology Bachelor of Arts.

He is forming a music band and developing solo material with his wife,

Taylor, and plans to integrate hisacademic studies in sociology with the

music industry - a goal being to assist performing arts groups

organize concerts and festivals for social benefit purposes.

Professionally, Jake will cultivate the arts-oriented ministry in

the student-led chapter of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship

at Columbia College Chicago.


Thinking of the fine arts as "communication",

InterVarsity mentors such as Jake, trains world-changing leaders using

communication paths including music, film/media, visual arts,

dance, theatre, and creative writing/narrative. Jake will engage

(with fellowship, discipleship, and critiques) students matriculating

in the fine arts and the broader campus community.

Malia Blay. 2006

Nate Wearin. 2006

Amy Bass. 2007

Jessica Stoehr. 2008

Kyle Funkerburk. 2009

Codie Larsen. 2010

Ian Madeiros. 2010

Jordan Matson. 2010

Allison Behrens. 2011

Kelsey Myers. 2011

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