Rita Girard Scholars
The five students who were awarded the Rita Girard Scholarship were recently announced. These students are Mia Fullenkamp, Paul Morgan, Riley Thieme, Savannah Zimmerman, and Sawyer Zimmerman.
Rita (Rumschlag) Girard was best known in the local music world as a ‘behind the scenes’ musical accompanist, but her friends at the St. Mary’s Choir did not want her to that title and established a new fund in her recognition with the Adams County Community Foundation in 2007.
Her parents realized she had a special talent to play the piano at a young age, as she was playing melodies at age four. Playing for an audience since she was young and as child number fourteen in a family with fifteen children, Girard was comfortable as an accompanist.
Through the next 20+ years, she would go on to give over 10,000 music lessons. She was a musical director and accompanist for a wide variety of musical productions and performances, working with thousands of students. It was her wish that the future Rita Girard Music Scholars will be used to provide monetary and moral support to students just as Rita received.
Many students applied this year for the Rita Girard Music Scholarship and five were recognized with this award. Fullenkamp, 12, is the daughter of Tyler and Ashley Fullenkamp of Decatur. She will attend St. Joseph School this fall as a seventh grader. Her scholarship provides financial support for her piano lessons. Morgan, 16, is the son of Richard and Annie Morgan of Decatur. He will attend Bellmont this fall as a sophomore. His scholarship provides financial support for his voice lessons. Riley Thieme, 15, is the daughter of Benjamin and Ashley Thieme of rural Decatur. She will attend Bellmont high school this fall as a sophomore. Her scholarship will also provide financial support for voice lessons.
Savannah Zimmerman, 10, and Sawyer Zimmerman, 10 are the children of Josh and Jessica Zimmerman of rural Decatur. They will both be attending St. Joseph School this fall for fifth grade. The scholarship will provide financial support for Savannah’s piano and voice lessons and Sawyer’s piano and accordion lessons.