Leaving a musical legacy
Michigan Tech names scholarship for Milt OlssonBy Layla Aslani DMG Writer
HOUGHTON - Although he will be gone from campus, Milt Olsson will still impact the lives of future music students at Michigan Technological University.
The Department of Visual and Performing Arts has created the Milton Olsson Music Scholarship to honor the longtime director of the Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra and the Michigan Tech Concert Choir. Olsson retired this year after 33 years of teaching the arts.
The department is currently collecting money to set up the scholarship, said Roger Held, the current chair of visual and performing arts.
"An endowed scholarship requires a minimum of $25,000 in the endowment," he said. "Scholarships are based on the interest paid on the endowment."
Held said a $25,000 endowment generally provides $1,000 a year, depending on the market.
Many of the scholarship's details are still being worked out, but Held noted, "because Milt has conducted the KSO and the choir, it is largely a scholarship to support those students in those organizations."
Held said the scholarship will honor Olsson's fine work.
"(Director of Jazz Studies) Mike (Irish) and the faculty came up with a list of four or five things and said, 'We want to do something that you really want to see happen, here's a list,'" he said. "Mike started reading the list and as soon as he got to the endowed scholarship, Milt said, 'Stop right there, that's what you need to do that will be the biggest benefit for our students.'"
Olsson said he was humbled and pleased with the award, but said the project is bigger than just him.
"It's an important project for the future of the program to be able to have a music scholarship because music is becoming a very important part of the university life and community life," he said.
Michigan Tech does not offer a music degree, but the music program caters to students who want to make music part of their college experience. Additionally, the school offers a minor in music.
Olsson said music courses complement the university's technical and scientific-based degrees.
"It allows them to pursue, on a more rigorous basis, something that they're really interested in," he said.
Olsson said working with passionate individuals was one of the best parts of his job.
"That's been my reward - to work with students and with our community people - who do what they're doing because they love to do it, not because it's a degree requirement or somebody said they had to do it," he said. "Almost always, they do it as at a sacrifice. They could be doing something else."
For information on how to contribute to the endowment, contact the department at 487-2067 or vpa@mtu.edu.
Layla Aslani can be reached at laslani @mininggazette.com.
