PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Bluebird Foundation Announces First Scholarship
Recipients
Duluth
MN…… Three area high school students are the first
scholarship recipients from the Bluebird Foundation
it was announced today at a reception at the
Radisson Duluth Hotel. Corey Reilly, Emily Ballard,
and Rebecca Lund will each receive $500 to be used
for camps/workshops this summer.
Corey Reilly, a 9th grade student at Denfeld H.S. in
Duluth, is the recipient of the John D. Munsell
Theater Award. The award is named after the late
John D. Munsell who was the director of theater at
UW Superior for over 25 years and directed over 70
theatrical productions including 25 musicals, and a
touring theatre program that gave 400 performances
in over 60 communities during a 10-year period. He
performed in countless plays, commercials, and
professional appearances.
Cathy Fank, the UWS theater faculty member hired to
replace Munsell, said it was "daunting" to follow
Munsell's act. "He was such a dynamic, inspirational
and well-respected acting and directing teacher, so
I was stepping into big shoes," she said, pointing
out that a number of Munsell's former students are
now on the theater faculty at area colleges and
active in the local theater scene.
Rebecca Lund, a 10th grade student at Cloquet High
School, is the recipient of the C.M. “Bud” Schultz
Music Award. Schultz attended University of
Michigan, finishing his education and Masters upon
graduation from UMD after the war. His first
teaching job was in Richland WA, then to Stephen MN,
before moving back to Duluth and being the band
director at West Junior High School in Duluth until
it closed.
Schultz spent his last years teaching at Ordean
before retiring in 1987. He also taught at UWS, UMD
and the College of St. Scholastica. Schultz directed
the Community Schools band and the Union Band as
well as his church choir.
Bluebird Foundation President Tracy Lundeen credits
Schultz for keeping him on track with his music and
his life during junior high school. “Bud believed in
me and was really one of the key people I can look
back at in my life and say made a huge difference.
When it came time to name a music award, there was
no other name to consider in my opinion. I loved
that man,” said Lundeen.
Emily Ballard, a 10th grade home schooled student
who is also attending PSEO classes at UMD, is the
recipient of the Rose Mary Harmeier Hoene Dance
Award. Harmeier Hoene is the late mother of Bluebird
Foundation Board Member Rose Hoene.
Rose Mary Harmeier Hoene studied dance at New York
University and Colorado College under such great
modern dancers as Hanya Holmes and Martha Graham. In
her first teaching job at the University of
Minnesota, Duluth, Hoene helped to design the UMD's
first dance studio at the new campus. She owned and
operated her own dance studio and choreographed,
performed, and provided performers and other
support, for countless dance and theatrical
productions for the Duluth Playhouse, Junior League
Fundraisers, UMD, UWS, and Duluth East High School
to name a few. She was also an active supporter and
participant in the Duluth International Folk
Festival for many years and volunteered countless
hours sharing her love for dance with many area
organizations.
Today’s awards mark the beginning of what the
Bluebird Foundation Board hopes will be the
beginning of helping many area students pursue their
passion for the arts. The foundations mission
statement is: To be an advocate for area youth in
the performing arts and to create awareness of the
power of the arts to enhance self-esteem, to
increase understanding of others, and to improve
academic performance.
The inspiration for the Bluebird Foundation came
from Audrey Lundeen, late mother of Tracy Lundeen,
who he solely credits for giving him the gift of
music and the arts. “She introduced us to the
Bluebird of Happiness when we were very young. For
the Bluebird Foundation there is no better place to
start than with kids. Giving kids the gift of the
arts is truly a gift that will last a lifetime, a
gift of calm during storms and peace during times of
troubles. The arts are truly a gift that will always
keep on giving,” he states.
The Bluebird Foundation is a Minnesota Corporation
that has filed for nonprofit status under 501 (c)(3)
to the Internal Revenue Service.
For additional information contact Tracy Lundeen at
218-727-1177.
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