Del Owens Memorial Scholarship

The Ascend Family mourns the loss of an extraordinary Blue Knights Volunteer, Del Owens. Del spent the last 20 years of his 84 years as a volunteer. He volunteered at drum corps camps doing airport shuttle runs, registration, shako fitting, food service, merchandise preparation and sales with his wife, Dinah (the Merchandise Coordinator who left us in 2014) and vehicle maintenance; In addition, Del helped with the Percussion Ensemble driving props to percussion ensemble events. Del served on the Booster Board, Drums Along the Rockies Committee and the Friendship Cup High School Marching Band Competition Staff.

Del was recognized for his efforts with the Blue Knights Percussion Ensemble's 2001 Director's Award and as the Blue Knights Drum & Bugle Corps' Outstanding Volunteer in 2002. Del states, "Certainly, these awards were greatly appreciated and cherished to this day. But the REAL reward comes when a member passing through the food line says 'thank you'. That's when you really know your effort has been worthwhile."

Del will be greatly missed. In his memory, Ascend Performing Arts has established a scholarship fund with the hopes of distributing 2 scholarships – 1 each for a current member of the 2017 drum corps and percussion ensemble.

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