Kristin Smith was a vibrant young lady and talented musician who attended Orange Grove Middle School. I was lucky enough to be able to work with her nearly every week for three years before her tragic death in December of 2000. Kristin was always a joy to have in the studio. She worked hard and made incredible progress in those three years.

To help preserve Kristin’s memory and to promote hard work and dedication in the Orange Grove percussion section, I have established a scholarship in Kristin’s memory. For as long as I continue to teach private lessons in the Tucson area, one Orange Grove percussion student per semester will receive a block of nine to twelve free weekly lessons.

At the end of each semester, after considering the efforts and progress of percussionists at the school, the Orange Grove band director and/or I will select the winning student. The lessons are given during the spring or summer following each semester. A student can receive the scholarship only once. If there is no clear winner of the scholarship in a given semester, the band director and I will attempt to select a winner at the end of the following semester.

Recipients of the Kristin Smith Percussion Scholarship:

• Spring 2007, Abby McCourt
• Fall 2006, Tim Rachbach
• Spring 2006, Reid Hunter
• Fall 2005, Lorelei Hodgson
• Fall 2004, Alex Merideth
• Spring 2004, Navid Fallahi
• Fall 2003, Tim Mulkerin
• Fall 2002, Eric Ludwig
• Spring 2002, Richard Jacobson
• Fall 2001, Luke Daley
• Spring 2001, Samantha Palliser

Visit Kristin's memorial website, kksmith.net.