1) Enrolled in the College of Liberal Arts at CSU 2) Part-time or full-time undergraduate student majoring in Music 3) Play a brass instrument in one of the performance ensembles
History
As an undergraduate music major at the University of Oklahoma (OU, Dr. Whitaker played the French horn in both the band and the orchestra. After graduation, she played for three seasons in the Tulsa Philharmonic. Then a decision to change careers led her back to school for a master's in English at the University of Tulsa and a PhD in American literature from the University of Oklahoma. She came to Colorado State University in 1965 and spent thirty-six years as a faculty member in the English Department, eleven of those years were as chair. Never abandoning her love of music, she has followed the development of the School of Music and has enjoyed hearing talented faculty and students at many concerts. Now retired, she has gone back to her "first love" and plays the piano and recorder in various ensembles, including the local chapter of the American Recorder Society and the Colorado Recorder Orchestra.
The scholarship is also named in memory of Myra Jo Moon, a cornet player whom Dr. Whitaker met in the OU band. They were the only two women brass players in an era when conventional wisdom said women didn't have the lung power to play brass instruments. A lifelong friendship developed, and as luck would have it, both have achieved their dreams of living in Colorado. Ms. Moon was a librarian at CSU for twenty-eight years.
The purpose of the fund is to provide scholarships to benefit music students enrolled in the College of Liberal Arts at Colorado State University.