ASU Students Win Blues Society Scholarships

Scholarship Winners (L-R): Dalton Anderson, Brandon Batten, Sara Baxter, Will DeForest, Rebekah Arana Cook, Riley Jarabek, Luis Peña, Logan Lucas and Joseph Torres. (Not pictured: Mykel Martin) The scholarships have been awarded in increasing amounts since 2008 to ASU students who are active in Blues Society activities and events, have above-average GPAs, are on track toward graduation and are recommended by a faculty member. There is also the expectation the students will continue to be active with the Blues Society and stay committed to their musicality. Funding for the scholarships is donated by local sponsors, and this year’s awards are for the 2017-18 academic year. 

This year, ASU students Dalton Anderson of Weatherford and Brandon Batten of San Angelo received $2,500 scholarships. Anderson’s award was funded by Republic Services, and Batten’s was funded by AB Distributing and Rod and Denise Bridgeman, former owners of the Sealy Flats restaurant and Blues venue. 

Will DeForest of San Angelo received a $2,000 scholarship funded by the James B. and Lois R. Archer Charitable Foundation, and Riley Jarabek of San Angelo received a $1,500 scholarship funded by the Blues Society’s annual Rib Cook-Off. 

Sara Baxter of Georgetown, Logan Lucas of Helotes, Luis Peña of San Angelo, and Joseph Torres of Dallas each received $1,000 scholarships funded by the Sugg-Switch Ranch, XS Ranch, Ener-Tel Services and Family Power Sports, respectively. Rebekah Arana Cook of McCamey and Mykel Martin of Junction received $500 scholarships funded by HEB. 

Dr. Karen Cody Dr. Karen Cody, ASU modern languages professor and Blues Society member, said, “The purpose of the San Angelo Blues Society is twofold:  to support Blues music performance in San Angelo and to educate and encourage young musicians in Blues – a genre not often explored in formal lessons or in their academic experiences. Generous sponsors make it possible for our annual Simply Texas Blues Festival and Competition to remain free to the public, as well as funding our annual scholarships.” 

More details about the San Angelo Blues Society and the scholarships are available at http://sanangelobluessociety.com/index.php.