The 2009 Recipients of the Empire Statesmen / Operation Taps Scholarship

John Kissell, Dundee, NY

and

Ryan Hobart, Rushville, NY

Click here to view their Final Projects

Rules and Details

The Empire Statesmen Drum and Bugle Corps of Rochester, NY are conducting a scholarship competition for its school aged members (High School or College) who participate in Operation Taps.

Operation Taps is a project that encourages civilian Taps bugler volunteerism.

Awarded at the
Vince Bruni Preview of Champions at St. John Fisher College in Rochester, NY on July 4th, 2009

 
Scholarship applicants will be asked to:

1)Register with Bugles Across America, a national online database that unites families of recently deceased US Veterans with over 6000 taps bugler volunteers.
Upon registration with Bugles Across America, the applicant will complete the accompanying form and have it signed by a representative of the Empire Statesmen organization for confirmation.
2)Make contact with a Veterans organization in their community (examples may include the American Legion, VFW, the Navy Club, Veterans Outreach, etc.) and inform them that they may be available to play Taps for military honors funerals or any other ceremonies. Please refer to www.tapsbugler.com for protocol and procedures.
A form will be provided for the applicants to complete and have signed by a representative of that organization.  
3)Learn about a Veteran, or Active Service Member in their community and submit a presentation on what they have learned about that person.
The presentation can be in the form of a written essay of 500 to 1000 words, or multi-media presentation (Examples may include a PowerPoint presentation, or YouTube-style video).
Applicant and subject should be willing to grant the Empire Statesmen permission to post it online, or to publish it in written form.
The report should be based on an interview with the person, or a group of people reporting on a deceased Veteran.

The interview should be based on the following questions:

-The Veteran or Service Member's name
-Branch of service
-Years served
-Notable Assignments
And:
What that person would want the next generation to know about:
-Honor
-Courage
-Sacrifice
-Duty
-Service to others

Notes:
-Scholarship applicants who are still in high school or under the age of 18 will be required to provide a signature from a parent or guardian to verify permission to participate.
-The applicant will not be required to perform Taps at a Military Honors Funeral, primarily because he or she may never be called upon to do so in their respective communities. However, if an applicant has been called to perform, the selection committee has the right to consider that in the selection of the scholarship recipient.
-The scholarship will not limited to upper brass or “small bore” instrumentalists. Any member may participate as long as they are aware that if called upon to perform at a military honors service, it should be on an appropriate instrument.
- The selection committee will be made up of members of the Empire Statesmen leadership, advisors to the Operation Taps project, or high ranking members of local Veterans organizations. The Empire Statesmen organization reserves the right to have final say in selection if results are deemed too close to call.
-All forms mentioned above will be provided at corps rehearsal and also in downloadable (PDF) form.
-Deadline for applications and to submit final project is June 27, 2009.

Empire Statesmen Inc. ™ is a 501-3(c) not for profit organization and is listed with United Way.
For those interested in donating specifically to this scholarship award, please visit http://www.statesmen.org/navMain/capitalcampaign.html

Questions or Comments:
Tom Allen
info@operationtaps.org