The Justin Veatch Fund Awards second annual scholarships to YHS songstress, violinist
The family of Justin Veatch, who tragically died in his sleep as a result of an accidental drug overdose at age 17 in 2008, awarded its second annual music scholarship in their son’s name at Senior Awards Night at Yorktown High School Wednesday to graduating Yorktown senior Erika Nininger. A runner up award was also presented to Yorktown senior Beatrice Naumann.
The music scholarship is part of The Justin Veatch Fund’s mission to foster programs for young, emerging musical artists. Justin was an exceptionally talented singer, songwriter and musician whose work was released on the compilation album “Permagrin: The Music of Justin Veatch by The Ivoryton Piano Factory and Friends” in 2009 on Polyvinyl Records.
Nininger is a pianist, guitarist, vocalist and songwriter who has donated her talents to community service in programs in her school and raising money for her church, Relay for Life and Hanover Farm. She will be attending Ohio Wesleyan University in the fall. In receiving the award Nininger said “This award means so much to me. I completely believe in the positive effects of music, and really everything that The Justin Veatch Fund stands for. It’s an honor that I will keep with me where ever I go.”
Naumann has been a violinist in the Area All State Orchestra and the Greater Westchester Youth Orchestra and had the honor in May to perform in Carnegie Hall.
The Justin Veatch Fund is a non-profit 501©3 organization set up in 2009 by Justin’s Family. The Fund’s mission to honor Justin’s legacy is to award scholarships to graduating high school students planning study in the fields of music and create programs to support young, emerging musical artists.
The Fund co-sponsors the popular First Friday’s Open Mic series with The Yorktown Teen Center and is staging a two-day music workshop for talented teens at Briarcliff Manor High School on August 18th and 19th. Among the nationally recognized “teachers” who will participate in that workshop are Sloan Wainwright, Vermont singer/songwriter Jon Gailmor and members of the Philadelphia band Good Old War.
More information about the fund and its programs is available at thejustinveatchfund.org.
