Hunden Partners Awards Musical Theatre Scholarships to Ball State University Students

Robin Scott Hunden Musical Theater Scholarship winners Mitchell Takeda and Jaylen Bryant ● Photo Credit: Hunden Partners

CHICAGO, March 20, 2024 (VSNewsNetwork.com) - Hunden Partners, a Chicago-based real estate development advisory firm, has announced this year's recipients of the Robin Scott Hunden Musical Theatre Scholarship at Ball State University. The scholarship, aimed at supporting Musical Theatre majors with financial needs, seeks to foster diversity in musical theatre programs and assist students in pursuing arts careers. This academic year's awardees include Parker Bowman, Jaylen Bryant, Rylee Droege, Madison Jackson, Mitchell Takeda, and Lucia Vazquez.

Rob Hunden, CEO and Founder of Hunden Partners and the scholarship's founder, shared his personal connection to the arts and his motivation for establishing the scholarship. "I grew up singing and performing through college, and while I didn’t pursue the performing arts as a career, I continue to love and appreciate the positive impact that the arts have on individuals and communities," Hunden stated. "The arts can be a catalyst for placemaking, community-building, and belonging. I’m delighted to help provide opportunities for college students to pursue their artistic careers."

Since its inception in 2015, the Hunden Musical Theatre Scholarship has donated over $20,000 to support Ball State students, with the first awards given in the 2017-2018 academic year. The scholarship is designed to support students across different academic years in the Musical Theatre program, with a focus on sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Notably, Jaylen Bryan and Mitchell Takeda are both two-time recipients of the scholarship. Beyond financial support, Hunden has also contributed to other costs associated with pursuing a career in musical theatre, including travel expenses for auditions in New York. Previous scholarship recipients have gone on to perform in notable productions such as “Tina: The Tina Turner Musical” on Broadway and the “Six” U.S. national tour.

Bill Jenkins, chair of Ball State’s Department of Theatre and Dance, expressed gratitude for Hunden Partners' ongoing support. "We are extremely grateful for Hunden Partners’ support in providing scholarship funding for Musical Theatre students. As we continue to recruit a talented student body with diverse socioeconomic and geographic backgrounds, we rely heavily on scholarship support to ensure that educational journeys are focused on opportunities in the classroom, on stage, and beyond," Jenkins said. "We appreciate Rob’s partnership to help our students pursue their vision and dreams, and how much he values the vital role the arts play in thriving communities."

For more information, visit: https://hunden.com and www.bsu.edu.

Source: Hunden Partners via Newswire