Stewards Establish Scholarship Endowment for String Music Students at A-State
JONESBORO – Andrea and Martin Steward of Oil Trough have established the Steward Family Endowed Scholarship for students emphasizing string music studies at Arkansas State University.
The family’s gift to the Arkansas State University System Foundation, Inc., is for $25,000 to establish the scholarship endowment, plus an additional $1,000 to provide awards during the first year while the endowment fund builds.
“A string scholarship is a way to continue this family's tradition of string education,” Andrea Steward explained, noting her family’s close involvement with A-State music programs.
The Stewards’ connection with A-State began in summer of 1995 when Andrea Steward, a music educator, first accompanied a choir at the Arkansas State Choir Camp. She began graduate studies and completed requirements for a Master of Music degree, graduating in 2001.
Her son, Jeffrey, began attending A-State Choir Camp in the summer of 2008, and his brother, Shelby, joined in the summer of 2010. Both sons began string lessons at an early age.
In addition to playing in the North Arkansas Youth Orchestra in Little Rock, both Jeffrey and Shelby studied strings and played in the A-State Orchestra, first under Dr. Chi Young Song, then Shelby continued playing after graduation in December 2020 under Dr. Suren Petrosyan.
Full-time students who participate in the string music program will be given preference in the selection process for the Steward Family Scholarship. Recipients may reapply for the scholarship each semester. A Department of Music faculty committee will choose each recipient.
Fine Arts Center, Arkansas State University
