Criteria for New Vandersall Scholarship is Announced
Any Huntington High School senior who has excelled in both academics and music will have an opportunity to apply for the newly created Jean Hoerner Vandersall Scholarship this year.
The scholarship is being funded by Scott and Amy Vandersall in memory of Mr. Vandersall's mother, Jean Hoerner Vandersall, who passed away in 2008. She resided in Huntington for more than five decades.
The Vandersalls have committed to awarding an annual $500 scholarship in each of the next five years beginning this spring. At the end of the five year period the family will decide whether to renew the scholarship for an additional five years.
In consultation with the Vandersall family, the following criteria have been established for the new scholarship:
• The student will be a graduating senior from Huntington High School who has excelled in both academics and music.
• The student should plan to continue being involved in music performance in the future, but not necessarily major in music.
• The award is not needs based.
• The student applicants will write an essay which will be reviewed by the music staff. The Vandersall family will read the top essays and select the scholarship winner.
• The topic of the essay will be: "What role has music played in your education in Huntington? What steps can be taken by your generation of musicians to keep music alive in the concert halls and schools in the future?"
Jean Hoerner Vandersall passed away on March 30, 2008. She was an accomplished pianist and a member of the Manhattan School of Music's faculty. Mrs. Vandersall also maintained a very active teaching studio in Huntington and was an inspiration to her students. Mrs. Vandersall and her husband, Thornton sent three sons through the Huntington School District.
Scott and Amy Vandersall, reside New Hampshire. Mr. Vandersall was a member of Huntington High School's Class of 1977. He went on to earn a BA in economics at Colby College and an MBA with a concentration in financial services at Boston University. He is employed as regional vice president of TD Bank for the Massachusetts north shore in the Greater Boston area.