Dr. Shelly Scholarship Awards Music Appreciation

June 24, 2009: To say that Dr. W. Dayton Shelly appreciated music might be understating things a little. Dr. Shelly, who passed away in April, 2008, felt that music was a vital part of his life, according to his wife, Dianne.

So, to honor his memory and his commitment to the community, his family has established the Dr. W. Dayton Shelly Memorial Music Scholarship Fund at The Community Foundation of Susquehanna and Wyoming Counties. The scholarship is available to students from Tunkhannock Area High School.

The idea for the scholarship was formed when, just before Dr. Shelly's death, a group of Tunkhannock High School Choir members came to the Shelly home to sing for him. Despite his weakened condition, Dr. Shelly was uplifted by the music, and Mrs. Shelly was incredibly moved by the experience.

"These students," she wrote in a recent letter, "just beginning their own life journey, witnessed the awesome power of music."

Mrs. Shelly said the joy this performance gave to Dr. Shelly "will forever be a moment of light during a very dark time." The Shelly family felt it important to give back to young people in some way.

This year the family will award two scholarships, worth $500, to students who understand and appreciate the power of music, but may not necessarily be planning to enter into the field of music as a profession.

Donations to the Dr. W. Dayton Shelly Memorial Music Scholarship Fund are tax deductible, and can be sent in care of The Community Foundation. For more information on this scholarship, or the Community Foundation, please visit www.community-foundation.org.