John Anthony Richard Memorial Scholarship for Future Music Educators

NCKMEA is proud to present each year the John Anthony Richard Memorial Scholarship for Future Music Educators. When John passed away in 2020, his wife Sandy chose to donate his memorial funds to the North Central District. John was an active member of both KMEA and NCKMEA, as well as a member of the Kansas Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He is missed and the Executive Board could not think of a better way to honor his service to the profession and dedication to teaching music than to rename this scholarship in his name.

If you are a student who has been a member of a NCKMEA District Honor Group and will be attending a four year university and majoring in Music Education, please apply. Students will need to complete an application and provide two letters of reference.

NCKMEA is proud to offer the John Richard Future Music Educator Scholarship program. We awarded the first North Central District Scholarship to a future music educator in December 2005. In order to make sure that this scholarship remains in perpetuity, we are always soliciting donations to this endowment. We are looking for anyone willing to help out as we continue this effort. We need volunteers from throughout the District (from all levels and from all teaching areas) to do anything from brainstorming to making calls to meeting with possible donors as we look to raise funds. If you are willing and able to help out in any of the following funding categories, please contact the NCKMEA President to be put in touch with the District Chair in charge of each area: music patrons, businesses, or concert-going public.

And now for the part that everyone can do (whether you want to volunteer for a committee or not). Knowing that there are many community ensembles as well as music booster groups throughout North Central Kansas, we are asking for your help. If you are involved with a community group or have a music booster group at your school, would you please consider presenting this opportunity to those groups and ask them to donate what they can to this worthwhile cause. Just let them know that the North Central District is in the process of raising funds for a scholarship that will given away each year to a future music educator and that their donation will go a long way to making sure that we can provide this award every year. It's the District's way of promoting our profession and assuring a future for music students in the state of Kansas. Checks can be made payable to the "North Central District Scholarship Fund" and sent to the NCKMEA President at the address below. Also, if you feel moved to contribute, any amount would be appreciated.

Donations may be sent to the NCKMEA President