Scholarships, Grants, and Awards
Scholarships, Grants, and Awards
Student Scholarships
If you have been awarded any WRAMTA/WRAMTAS scholarship or grant within the last 5 years (2019 or later), please do not submit another scholarship or grant application until 5 years has passed. Thank you!
The deadline for all applications is Wednesday, January 31, 2024 at 11:59 PM Pacific Time.
Celeste Poll Student Scholarship
All applicants must be paid Student Members of WRAMTA.
The recipient receives:
- Complimentary 2024 Regional Conference Registration
- One Complimentary CMTE course (3 or 5 credit hours) at the 2024 Regional Conference
- Up to $400 for travel expenses
Internship Scholarship
All applicants must be paid Student Members of WRAMTA or paid member of AMTA completing their internship in the Western Region.
Professional Opportunities
All applicants and nominees must be Professional members of WRAMTA.
If you have been awarded any WRAMTA/WRAMTAS scholarship or grant within the last 5 years (2019 or later), please do not submit another scholarship or grant application until 5 years has passed. Thank you!
The deadline for all applications is Wednesday, January 31, 2024 at 11:59 PM Pacific Time.
Wilhelmina Harbert Professional Scholarship
- Complimentary 2024 Regional Conference Registration
- One Complimentary CMTE course (3 or 5 credit hours) at the 2024 Regional Conference.
- Up to $400 for travel expenses
Professional Development Grant
The purpose of the Professional Development Grant is to provide funding in support of activities of professional members of the Western Region Chapter, American Music Therapy Association, Inc. (WRAMTA).
Total amount available for Professional Development Grant and New Professional Grant: $1500
New Professional Grant
The purpose of the New Professional Grant is to provide funding in support of activities for new professional members of the Western Region Chapter, American Music Therapy Association, Inc. (WRAMTA). A new professional graduated less than two years prior to the application deadline of this application.
Total amount available for Professional Development Grant and New Professional Grant: $1500
Professional Member Award Nominations
Past Award Recipients
2022 Internship Scholarship Recipient
Christine Figueras, California State University Northridge
2022 Celeste Poll Conference Scholarship Recipient
Antonia Barela, California State University Northridge
2022 Wilhemina Herbert Professional Conference Scholarship Recipient
Nicholas Ryder
2022 Professional Development Grant Recipient
Holly Mead
2022 Betty Isern Howery Western Region Recognition Award Recipient
Patricia Catalano
2021 Internship Scholarship Recipients
Georgia Agerton, University of the Pacific
Kaelie Gillespie Gerber, Utah State University
Emily Bruso, Arizona State University
Sin Yi (Cindy) Leung, California State University Northridge
Curtis Sanderson, Utah State University
2021 Professional Development Grant Recipient
Camille Savage
2021 New Professional Grant Recipient
Audrey Cosgrove
2021 Professional Awards
Service – Manal Toppozada
Advocacy – Lisa Hightower-Kibbe
2021 Presidential Award
Maria Maddock
2020 Professional Award Recipients
Advocacy – California Assemblyman Chris Holden; The Music Man Foundation
Service – Kevin Hahn
2020 Internship Scholarship Recipients
Aubrey Christensen, Utah State University
Samantha Fry, Utah State University
Mollie McLean, California State University – Northridge
2020 Conference Scholar Award Recipients
Celeste Poll Student Conference Scholarship – Crystal Kamenar
Wilhelmina Harbert Professional Conference Scholarship– Candace Bartel
2020 Professional Development Grant Recipient
Tara McConnell – Scholarships for “Crescendo” participants, an outpatient NMT unit
2020 A Harmonic Remedy Grant Recipient
Eugenia Hernandez-Ruiz, Arizona State University – “Parents’ Perception of Music Therapy Research”
2019 Professional Award Recipients
Advocacy – Raffi Tachdjian
Service – Tim Ringgold
Professional Practice – Lori Sunshine
Betty Isern Howery – Karen Reed
Presidential Award – Emily Polichette, Lillieth Grand
2019 Intern Scholarship Recipients
Maria Meeds, UC Davis Children’s Hospital
Sarah Murrin, Musicworx, Inc.
Jessica Steinhebel – Seasons Hospice & Palliative Care – Portland
2019 Conference Scholar Award Recipients
Celeste Poll Student
Katrin Gutierrez – California State-Northridge
Wilhelmina Harbert Professional: Brittany Tachkov
2019 Professional Development Grant Recipient
Brea Murakami and Lisa Peterson – Music Therapy Songbook Development Project
2019 New Professional Grant Recipient
Hannah Bendino – Instruments for Bridgeway House
2018 Professional Award Recipients
Advocacy – The Taylor Family Foundation
Service – Alison Wendel Bennett
Professional Practice – Carlene Brown
Betty Isern Howery – Tom Benson
Presidential Award – Utah State Task Force
2018 Intern Scholarship Recipients
Kelsey Hall – Utah State University
Katelyn Crandall- Utah State University
Kate Comstock – California State University Northridge
2018 Conference Scholar Award Recipients
Celeste Poll Student
Kate Comstock – California State University Northridge
Wilhelmina Harbert Professional: Patricia Blair
2018 Professional Development Grant Recipient
Lillieth Grant
2018 New Professional Grant Recipient
Veronica Paine
2017 Professional Award Recipients
Advocacy – Jeff Peterson
Service – Lillieth Grand
Publications – Petra Kern
Professional Service – Angie Kopshy
Betty Isern Howery – Robin Rio
Presidential Award of Recognition – Kymla Eubanks and Kevin Hahn
2017 Intern Scholarship Recipients
Amy Calderon – ($500)
Marcia Elaina Brown (Lainey) – ($500)
2017 Conference Scholar Award Recipients
Jay Dressler – Celeste Poll Student ($400 travel, registration, 1 CMTE)
Hiromi Itoh – Wilhelmina Harbert Professional ($400 travel, registration, 1 CMTE)
2017 Professional Development Grant Recipient
Emily Christensen – ($600)
2017 New Professional Grant Recipient
Emma K. Byrd – ($600)
2016 Professional Award Recipients
Advocacy – OR State Rep. Julie Parrish
Service – Rachel McCauley
Publications – Christine Korb
Professional Practice – Mary Alvarado
Betty Isern Howery – Anne B. Parker
Presidential Award of Recognition – Jodi Winnwalker, Dawn Iwamasa, Laura Beer, Lillieth Grand, Melissa Potts, Christine Korb, and Ted Owen
2016 Intern Scholarship Recipients
Emily Higgins – ($1,000)
Leticia Castillo – ($1,000)
2016 Conference Scholar Award Recipients
Kailey Pederson – Celeste Poll Student ($400 travel, registration, 1 CMTE)
Amanda Griggs – Wilhelmina Harbert Professional ($400 travel, registration, 1 CMTE)
Corinne Chadwick – Serena Wadsworth Memorial ($1,500)
2016 Professional Development Grant Recipient
Brittany Tachov ($1,739)
2015 New Professional Grant Recipient
Kayla Zuckerman ($761)
2015 Professional Award Recipients
Betty Isern Howery: Piper Laird
Professional Practice: Laura Beer
Publications: Ronald Borczon
Service Award: Barbara Crowe
Advocacy: Steve and Barb Young
Presidential Award of Recognition: Lauren Bevilacqua
2015 Intern Scholarship Recipients
Korinne Fenton – ($1,000)
Candace Bain – ($1,000)
2015 Conference Scholar Award Recipients
Joy Chiang – 1st Time Attendee (registration)
Melinda Wilson – REMO (registration)
Jennifer Ostrowski – Celeste Poll Student ($400 travel, registration, 1 CMTE)
Erin Silvius – Wilhelmina Harbert Professional ($400 travel, registration, 1 CMTE)
Alexander Lesser – Serena Wadsworth Memorial ($1,500)
Amanda Griggs – Serena Wadsworth Memorial ($1,500)
2015 Professional Development Grant Recipient
Carmen Steele-Abundez – ($1500)
2015 New Professional Grant Recipient
Brittany Olisar – ($1,000)
2014 Professional Award Recipients
Professional Practice – Letha Mark
Advocacy – Utah State Representative Rebecca P. Edwards
Advocacy – David J. Grand
Presidential Award of Recognition: Utah State Task Force for successful passage of HB277: Co-Chairs Letha Mark & Maureen Hearns, Emily Horton, Jaycie Vorhees, Emily Bailey, Malou Cline, Emily Christensen
2014 Intern Scholarship Recipients
Kelsey Walker – ($1,000)
Heather Nelson – ($1,000)
2014 Conference Scholar Award Recipients
Shelly Zeiser – 1st Time Attendee (registration)
Melinda Wilson – REMO (registration)
Danielle Kamica King – Celeste Poll Student ($400 travel, registration, 1 CMTE)
Laura DeLoye – Wilhelmina Harbert Professional ($400 travel, registration, 1 CMTE)
Sara Rosenow – Wilhelmina Harbert Professional ($400 travel, registration, 1 CMTE)
2014 Professional Development Grants Recipient
Patti Catalano – ($920)
2013 Professional Award Recipients
Betty Isern Howery: Barbara Else
Professional Practice: Robin Rio
Service Award: Roberta ‘Bobbi’ Adler
Advocacy: Andrea Moriarty
Presidential Award of Recognition: Lillieth Grand
Presidential Award of Recognition: Susan Doering
Presidential Award of Recognition: Tracey Levy
2013 Intern Scholarship Recipients
Heidi Webster ($1,000)
Nicholas Farr ($1,000)
2013 Professional Development Grants Recipients
Angie Kopshy – ($1,200)
Manal Toppozada – ($1,000)
2013 New Professional Grant Recipient
Christine Burningham – ($300)
2012 Betty Isern Howery: Chris Korb
2012 Advocacy: Nevada State Senator Moises “Mo” Denis
2012 Presidential Award of Recognition: Rachel Firchau
2011 Betty Isern Howery: Jennifer Geiger
2011 Professional Practice: Kat Fulton
2011 Service Award: Terri Smith-Morse
2011 Advocacy: Pam Krug
2010 Betty Isern Howery: Maureen Hearns
2010 Presidential Award Government Relations: Sherri Giguere
2010 Presidential Award of Recognition: Angie Bollier
2010 Service Award: Barbara Else
2010 Professional Practice: Ron Borczon
2009 Betty Isern Howery: Tracy Leonard-Warner
2009 Presidential Award for Historical Relations: Ted Ficken, Wendy Woolsey, Lillieth Grand & Jennifer Geiger
2009 Service Award: Denise Dugal-Wulfman
2009 Publications Award: Eric G. Waldon
2009 Advocacy: REMO
2008 Betty Isern Howery: David Wolfe
2007 Betty Isern Howery: Jodi Winnwalker
2007 Presidential Award of Recognition: Randy Warner, Statutory Agent
2007 Service Award: Jennifer Geiger
2006 Betty Isern Howery: Helen Dolas
2006 Professional Practice: Sheryl Kelly
2006 Professional Practice: Vaughn Kaser
2005 Betty Isern Howery: Celeste Behnke
2005 Professional Practice: Lisa Jackert
2004 Betty Isern Howery: Ted Ficken
2004 Service Award: Tracy Leonard-Warner
2004 Publications Award: Wendy Woolsey
2004 Professional Practice: Elizabeth York
2003 Betty Isern Howery: Barbara Reuer
2003 Publications Award: Ron Borczon
2003 Professional Practice: Julie Allis-Berghofer
2002: No nominations or recipients
2001 Betty Isern Howery: Stephen Betz
2001: Professional Practice: Mary DiCamillo
2000 Betty Isern Howery: Lois Friedlander
2000 Service Award: Laura Walters
2000 Service Award: Jean Nicholas-Nye
2000 Publications Award: Barbara Crowe
2000 Professional Practice: Roberta Adler
1999 Betty Isern Howery: Ronald Borczon
1999 Service Award: Desiree Donich Werth
1999 Professional Practice: Susan Jette
1998 Betty Isern Howery: Suzanne Oliver
1998 Service Award: David Luce
1998 Publications Award: David Wolfe
1998 Professional Practice: Celeste Behnke
1997 Betty Isern Howery: Bruce Saperston
1997 Service Award: Suzanne Oliver
1997 Publications Award: April Rickey
1996 Betty Isern Howery: Kay Roskam
1995 Betty Isern Howery: Barbara Crowe
1994: The Publications, Service and professional Practice Awards were created by David Wolfe & approved by the Executive Committee. There were no nominations or recipients this year.
1993 Betty Isern Howery: Alice Parente
1992 Betty Isern Howery: Fran Goldberg1991 Betty Isern Howery: Carol Bitcon