Freshman awarded country musician's scholarship

August 4, 2009

Incoming freshman Ashley Poston has been named the first-ever recipient of the Josh Turner Scholarship for the Arts. Turner, a national recording artist, created the scholarship fund to help high school students who want to pursue a career in arts and entertainment. He wanted the first recipient to be from the same high school he attended, Hannah-Pamplico.

“I feel blessed to be the first recipient,” Poston said, “and will use my talents to inspire others.”

Poston, who plans to major in music education or music performance at PC, began singing when she was five. While in eighth grade, she sang the national anthem at the high school homecoming football game. Then, in high school, she sang at various school functions and sporting events.

In addition to taking advantage of singing opportunities for herself, Poston also revived the high school chorus. Turner says that he created the scholarship partly because he felt “lost in music classes” when he attended Belmont University, owing to the fact that 1A Hannah-Pamplico never had a “consistent music program.”

In fact, the school did not have a chorus during Poston’s freshman and sophomore years. But she changed that, addressing the issue in the school newspaper and meeting with the school district superintendent.

“My junior year we started having music classes and soon created an amazing chorus,” Poston said.

She served as the chorus leader during her junior and senior years and performed on many occasions. She also landed the lead role in Hannah-Pamplico’s production of High School Musical 1.

“I have come to the realization that I want to pass the love and passion I have found in music on to others,” Poston said. “After college I would like to teach music to young hearts willing to keep the cycle of music growing in the world.”

An article about Poston receiving the scholarship appeared in the August 3, 2009 issue of Country Weekly magazine. The accompanying picture appears courtesy of Country Weekly.

posted by Stacy Dyer '96
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