Purpose:  To honor the memory and continue the legacy of Gary Wilmer by awarding scholarships to students who wish to pursue an education in music.

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Criteria:

Graduating senior from Boone or Winnebago County who has a GPA of at least 2.5, plans to pursue a degree in music performance, education or composition and is actively involved in school or community musical groups. Students must be nominated by a music teacher.

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Gary Wilmer's Bio:

Gary S. Wilmer founded RAM Magazine, Rockford area music monthly in 1981. From that year forward the publication grew in stature to become one of this regions most appreciated sources of modern music information and influence. When Gary died October 16, 1994, his knowledge and assistance to, and his recognition of, local musicians continued in three major ways. First, his magazine is still published and now embraces all of the arts. Second, his commitment to On The Waterfront lives on in each year of the festivals success. Third, the RAMIs, the Rockford Area Music Industry Awards, which he was instrumental in founding, will hold its fifteenth annual ceremony in 2006.

Joe Guzzardo, owner of Guzzardo Music, said of Gary, He was thoughtful and sensitive, and thoroughly understood the problems and needs of local music and musicians. Gary could do it all, be it organizing benefits, booking bands, running sound or lights, helping new music club owners or encouraging new talent to persevere. As the president of his senior class at East High School, as a graduate of Rockford College and as a successful businessman, Garys 43 years of living showed that education is a marvelous conductorof a successful musical life.

For the past fifteen years the Rockford Area Music Industry awards ceremony has raised funds for the RAMI Music Scholarship. The Gary Wilmer Memorial Trust of the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois was established in June, 1996 in fond memory of Gary. Since Gary spent much of his life helping those involved in music, the RAMI permanent committee felt it appropriate to establish this memorial trust to help, in part, fund the RAMI Music Scholarship. It is the sincere hope of the RAMI scholarship committee that the recipients of this scholarship will carry on Garys legacy with pride.

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Application Instructions:

To apply for this scholarship, you must complete an online application and submit a packet of additional materials in hard copy.  Both of these components MUST be RECEIVED by the February 1st deadline. Recipients will receive the award during the RAMI Awards ceremony held annually in April.

The scholarship packet requires your school counselor, registrar or principal to verify your academic information so be sure to allow sufficient time to submit the application.  Incomplete and late applications will not be accepted.

To download the Application Checklist, click on the link below. Be sure that you access this checklist from the link on this webpage.  Although many checklists are the same or similar, they are not all identical.  Failure to use the appropriate checklist may lead to disqualification of your application due to insufficient data. Follow the instructions carefully to avoid submitting an incomplete application.

Application Checklist

To download the Academic Verification Form, click on the link below.

Academic Verification Form

To download the recommendation form, click on the link below. Two completed recommendation forms are required to apply.

Recommendation Form

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Links to Online Applications:

To begin a new online application, click on the link below and follow the instructions listed on the form.

New Application

To finish a saved application, click the link below.

Saved Application

 

If you have any questions, contact James Patterson at 962-2110 ext. 11 or e-mail.