McNeil, Keck first recipients of Summers Vocal Music Scholarship

(Tahlequah, OK)--The first recipients of the Lou Summers Vocal Music Scholarship Award, a new scholarship at Northeastern State University and the only one dedicated to the vocal arts, have been chosen.

The Lou Summers Vocal Music Scholarship Award is an annual scholarship awarded to one or more Oklahoma residents and full-time NSU students who are vocal music majors and are recommended by vocal music faculty, said Peggy Glenn-Summitt, NSU director of development.

Becca McNeil, a music business major from Sapulpa, and Mary Keck, a music performance major from Muskogee, were awarded $500 each.

This scholarship helped me to pay the remaining tuition that I owed the university and has allowed me to use the money I earn at my job to go towards other things that I need and want," said McNeil. "I was so happy because the good news came at the perfect time and was such a blessing. I couldn't have been happier. It felt like winning the lottery!

The scholarship was established by Lloyd and Linda Spyres in the name of Mrs. Spyres mother, Zelma Lou Summers, to assist students majoring in vocal music.

This scholarship was very helpful in taking care of a portion of my financial burden which is always greatly appreciated," said Keck. "The money saved from it can now be applied to other opportunities like savings for graduate school. I felt very fortunate and thankful for such a generous gift.

To choose the scholarship recipients, qualified students are submitted and reviewed by a committee selected by the chair of the NSU Department of Music.

Mary and I are the first recipients of this scholarship but we definitely wont be the last, said McNeil.