October 26, 2015
Colleagues, alumni and friends of the late Dr. Kristen Todd will host a scholarship benefit in her honor Nov. 15 at 2:30 p.m. The event will take place at First Baptist Church of Shawnee, located at 227 N. Union in Shawnee, at the corner of 10th and Union.
“The Office Series: an Afternoon of Art, Music, and Poetry” is a fundraiser for the Kristen Stauffer Todd Music History Research and Writing Scholarship for the OBU Division of Music. Todd was a longtime OBU music faculty member, who passed away in 2014.
“Dr. Todd initiated the award in 2001 and was the principle donor for the award,” stated Thresa Swadley, committee chair for the event. “The goal of this event is to endow the fund so that her OBU legacy will continue by assisting future OBU music students.”
A fund-raising drive began in July 2015 to raise the $10,000 needed for the endowment. Gifts from former students and friends have come in every week, since communication went out informing them of the scholarship being renamed to honor Todd’s legacy at OBU.
The idea of the “The Office Series” came from former students who wanted to participate in an event that honored the memory of their beloved professor as well as raise money for the scholarship. The title for the event was chosen because Dr. Todd regularly posted pictures of her students gathered in her office on Facebook and called the pictures, “The Office Series.” Many of these pictures will be displayed during the event.
The afternoon will begin with an art auction at 2:30 p.m., while current and retired OBU music faculty will provide music. Attendees may bid on art from local artists. A music program will begin at 3 p.m. and will feature OBU music alumni and the Bisonette Glee Club. There will be two intermissions for continued art auction bidding.
Many local artists will be featured at the auction, including Beth Wilheim; Julie Blackstone, OBU assistant professor of art; Corey Fuller, OBU associate professor of graphic design; Bre Love; Meredith Bailey; Diana Hall; Virgil Haywood; and Lisa Vernon. Several pieces are also being donated by former OBU students.
In addition to the music and artwork, OBU English faculty members Dr. Benjamin Myers, Crouch-Mathis Professor of Literature, and Dr. Brent Newsom, assistant professor of English, will share works of poetry during the event. Dr. Paul Hammond, retired dean of the Warren M. Angell College of Fine Arts, will serve as the master of ceremonies for the event.
For more information regarding “The Office Series: An Afternoon of Art, Music, and Poetry,” visit the public Facebook event page.