Scholarships and Award Funds
W.D. McKeehan Scholarship Fund
The W.D. McKeehan Scholarship Fund was established by the AGEHR board of directors in 1983 as a tribute to W.D. "Mac" McKeehan and his long years or service and numerous contributions to the Guild as national registrar and national treasurer. This fund provides scholarship assistance to qualified individuals for participation in AGEHR's National Seminar. Deadlines and application materials are posted when scholarships are available for an upcoming event.
William H. Griffin Scholarship Fund
The William H. Griffin Scholarship Fund was established in 2003 to honor Bill Griffin and his contributions to handbell music and to AGEHR, particularly for his service as interim executive director during that time. This fund provides assistance to qualified individuals for participation in the annual Distinctly Bronze event. Deadlines and application materials will be posted when scholarships are available for an upcoming event.
The D. Linda McKechnie Scholarship Fund
The D. Linda McKechnie Scholarship Fund was established in 2004. The purpose of the fund is to provide assistance to individuals and programs that promote education in elementary schools or to special needs populations. The assistance may be in the form of a scholarship to National Seminar for an individual working in one of these areas or in the form of a grant supporting programming in one of these areas. Deadlines and application materials will be posted when scholarships are available for an upcoming event.
Marilyn Kielniarz Memorial Scholarship Fund
The Marilyn Kielniarz Memorial Scholarship Fund was established by the AGEHR board of directors in memory of and to honor Marilyn Kielniarz, who was in the midst of her term as AGEHR president-elect when she was lost to cancer. Contributions to this fund will be used to award a memorial scholarship to a music educator for National Seminar. Deadlines and application materials will be posted when scholarships are available for an upcoming event.
Vivienne Rigby Memorial Fund for English Change Ringing
The Vivienne Rigby Memorial Fund for English Change Ringing was established by the AGEHR board of directors to honor Vivienne Rigby and her commitment to handbells and English Change ringing. Vivienne regularly taught a course in English change ringing each year at the annual Director's Seminar (now National Seminar). Contributions to this fund will ensure the continuation of this course at future National Seminar events and will be used to support other programs about change ringing so that future generations learn and know about this important heritage from our English forebearers. Please contact the AGEHR Executive Director for more information about grants and scholarships available from this fund.
Anonymous Education Fund
The AGEHR Educational Scholarship Fund was established by an anonymous donor as a challenge to other AGEHR members to contribute and support handbells in education and AGEHR educational events. Contributions will be used to offer scholarships to AGEHR events and grants to programs that promote handbells in educational settings. Please contact the AGEHR Executive Director for more information about grants and scholarships available from this fund.
Donald E. Allured Original Composition Award Fund
The Donald E. Allured Original Composition Award Fund was established in 1993 by attendees of the annual gathering of ringers at Bay View, Michigan, as a gift to Don Allured, the event's director. The award is intended to honor and ensure an appropriate legacy for Don and shall be for the sole purpose of creating original compositions of handbell music that exemplify the highest standards, quality, and expectations that Don Allured would demand. Awards from this fund are made by the Allured Award Committee.
Operating Fund
Your membership dues support the day-to-day operations of the AGEHR national office including publication of Overtones, E-Notes, operation of our website and other general office expenses. However, very little is available for special projects or upgrades in our office operation such as updating equipment and technology to better serve our members. Your contribution to this fund will support these efforts and other new projects that may be proposed from time to time.