Sigma Alpha Iota

Fall 2023 39 Philanthropies Awar 2 0 2 3 S I G M A A L P H A I O T A CONDUCTING SCHOL ARSHIP FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS IN MEMORY OF BOBBY BURK EMMA QUEEN S t a t e s b o ro A l u m n a e, Ta u C, R e g i o n V I ANNUAL AWARDS E mma Queen is a graduate of Oklahoma State University, where she was initiated into the Iota Alpha chapter in the spring of 2019. While at OSU, she earned a bachelor's degree in Music Education and served her chapter as President and Vice President, Membership. Currently a member of the Statesboro Alumnae Chapter, she is now entering her second year of graduate school at Georgia Southern University, working towards a master's degree in Choral Conducting. Emma shared the following in a note to Philanthropies: "I want to convey my immense gratitude for receiving the Conducting Scholarship for Graduate Students. I am incredibly blessed for all the support this fraternity has given me. When I began college, I knew I wanted to join my school's SAI chapter because I thought it would be a good way to make a few friends; I had no idea the impact that choice would have on my life. I made life-long friends in my chapter and found new friends instantly in the Gamma Theta chapter when I moved halfway across the country from Kansas to Georgia last summer. I had heard of the friendship formed between sisters who met far away from their initiating chapters, but I never had the chance to experience the joy that our sisterhood brings until this past year. While the sisterhood this fraternity has brought me is the thing I cherish most, the financial support given to me by SAI Philanthropies, Inc. has also impacted my life significantly. I value the opportunity I have to continue my education at the graduate level, and I aim to take full advantage of every possible opportunity to learn; however, there are many financial burdens when one is in a graduate program and unable to work full-time. This scholarship will help me to pay for the remainder of my school and books, allowing me to focus on the music I get to make with my peers for the last year of my program." For two weeks, I attended the Saarburg International Music Festival (Saarburger Serenaden) and had the opportunity to collaborate with many different musicians from around the world. This experience has helped me connect with more people but also gave a nice space for beautiful music to be made. I am thankful for the SAI Summer Music Scholarship I received to help make this festival achievable financially, and I'm proud to see where this sisterhood takes me next! Thank you again! MADISON BETZ Epsilon Gamma

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