These gifts also serve to strengthen an already robust music program. The funds were received from two individual donors – Emeritus Professor Charles Moon and Alumna Virginia Carder. Each made a gift of over $50,000 dollars to endow new music scholarships.
Charles Moon and Virginia Carder are passionate about music—their endowed gifts help ensure that quality music instruction and the study of music theory are preserved for future students. When an endowment is established, the initial gift is invested, and the principal remains untouched. The annual income of that gift is used to award the scholarship in perpetuity.
“Endowed scholarships in the arts are so important because they’re a reliable resource we can extend to our students across the generations,” says Ken Ayoob, Dean of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. “Providing support for talented students is important to HSU’s vision to be a regional center for the arts.”
Charles Moon knows the importance of endowments to the Music Department. Moon taught Piano and Music Theory for 30 years at Humboldt State and has continued to support the Music Department throughout his retirement. Moon says it’s an exciting time for Humboldt State’s music program because of the great faculty HSU has managed to attract. His gift endows The Charles L. Moon Scholarship, which will provide two $1,000 scholarships each year to deserving students. One scholarship will be awarded to a gifted piano student, and the other to a student who excels in Music Theory. The first two recipients will be selected this spring.
Virginia Carder received her Master’s in Education from HSU. Carder is now retired from a lifelong career in teaching. She’s studied a variety of string instruments and currently plays the viola. Carder says she’s passionate about the value of music education and the mission of helping students overcome financial obstacles. Virginia’s gift to permanently endow The Carder Music Scholarship fulfills her goals of supporting music education while assisting students in need of financial support. The scholarship will provide a minimum of $1,500 each year to a student with a passion for string instruments.
If you are interested in contributing to either of these endowments, or would like to inquire about making a gift to support the Music Department, please contact the Office of Philanthropy at giving@humboldt.edu or call 707-826-5200.