Scholarship is music to their ears

T H E   D A L H O U S I E   D I F F E R E N C E

Sisters Karen Ridgway Woolhouse and Judith Hume share more than a few family traits.

For one thing, they believe in giving back to the community that fostered their education and they are both passionate about lifelong learning.

Engaged in Dalhousie alumni affairs for decades (Karen graduated in ’65 with her BSc in Math and Judy followed her lead with a BA in English in ’66), the sisters have already contributed more than their fair share to the university.

Honouring their memory

But when their parents passed away, Karen seized the opportunity to honour their memory by establishing a named scholarship. Her parents’ passion for music, combined with their pride in their daughters’ success at Dalhousie made the designation easy.

A $26,000 gift was made and the Lawrence and Mildred Ridgway Scholarship in Music was born in 2006. Further gifts were received from family and friends in memory of Mr. F. Hume Wells, Judith’s husband, a music and education advocate in his own right.

Fast-forward a couple of years and what started out as a simple scholarship fund has blossomed into a substantial endowment. Renamed the Woolhouse-Wells Endowment in Music, today the fund provides two named entrance scholarships for outstanding students pursuing a degree in music performance – an outcome both sisters find extremely rewarding.
  
“Music is a part of Dalhousie that truly reaches into the community,” says Karen, a long-time supporter of Symphony Nova Scotia. “There are so many concerts featuring Dal music students, faculty and alumni. Music performance is truly a lifelong commitment and those who study music at Dal are always performing and giving back to the community.”
   
Her sister agrees.
   
“Living in the South End of Halifax all my life has meant that I’ve always been aware of the university’s presence, both in the cultural and professional sense,” says Judith. “It just felt right to be able to support deserving music students who are at the very beginning of what will undoubtedly be a long and rewarding road.”
   
Students who’ve received the scholarship say it makes a real difference to their lives and studies.   

'Immense'

“The impact of a scholarship like this is immense. It allowed me to really focus on my studies and it really gave me a great sense of accomplishment,” says Owen McCausland, a voice student and 2008/09 recipient. “What a lovely way to begin my education. I can’t thank the donors enough.”

“Classical training spills into everything,” adds Geordie Brown, a music and theatre double major. “The road is long but it’s a lot of fun. Receiving support at the front end of a lifelong commitment to music really makes a difference.”

Voice student Meghan Thompson, a 2010/11 Ridgway Scholarship recipient, says the investment in her future strengthens her commitment to Dalhousie. “I’m here thanks to the scholarship and to the great faculty at Dal and I’m already thinking about doing my masters. It’s definitely a long-term commitment.”
 

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In a series of regular articles, Dal News has been introducing some of the priorities of the Bold Ambitions campaign:

• The first story, "The Dalhousie Difference," explores what the power of philanthropy means to a university like Dalhousie.
• "All in a Day's work"
  
• "Imagining where they can be"
  
• "More than a great idea"
  
• "Introducing the living lab"
  
• "Students helping students"
  
• Wing planned for the Dal Arts Centre
  
• A solid foundation for Dalhousie Legal Aid
• Launching Bold Ambitions