A student from Salina earns an inaugural music scholarship to Kansas Wesleyan University. Paige Baird is the first recipient of the Eric Stein Scholarship.

According to KWU, the scholarship was set up this past year to honor the late Eric Stein, who founded the Salina Symphony and was a longtime instructor at Marymount College. It is available to new KWU students coming from Saline County schools and will cover 85 percent of Baird’s tuitipn.

A viola player from Salina South High School, Baird holds the first viola chair in her school orchestra and in the Salina Youth Symphony Orchestra.

“She is a leader and will be a great addition to the Department of Music,” said Dr. Leonardo Rosario, director of the strings program at Kansas Wesleyan.

Baird was selected by the KWU Music faculty after auditioning.

“This scholarship shows the commitment of the university in developing the strings area and Music Department,” said James McAllister, chair of the department. “It honors the legacy of Eric Stein, who was instrumental in establishing a tradition of music in Salina.”

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KWU Photo