Elementary school student wins piano scholarship

Published 11:04 pm Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Sean Lee is the winner of the 2008-2009 Karen Lightbody Kirkman Piano Scholarship, officials with the Dalton Education Foundation said. Sean is the 13th winner of the scholarship, which provides $500 to help pay for the recipient’s piano lessons. His piano teacher is Laurel Im.

Sean, a fourth-grade student at Brookwood Elementary School, he is the youngest recipient in the history of the scholarship program.

Foundation president Kevin Wright and foundation executive director Jean Lowrey made the presentation to Sean during the school day in the presence of his classmates and teachers.

Launched in 1996 in memory of Karen Kirkman, the scholarship not only recognizes outstanding musical ability but also requires applicants to share their talents in the community.

Designed by the late Mrs. Kirkman, this scholarship is meant to encourage and enable promising piano students to pursue further piano studies and to use that knowledge and those talents for the benefit of the community.

Kirkman was a very talented pianist, donating countless hours of piano performance and accompaniment to schools, civic groups and churches. She was the caliber of player who could have charged each time she sat down at the keyboard, but she chose to give back to her community in this unique way.