Berrien Community Foundation scholarship donor and Coloma High School graduate, Dr. Rodney Weir looks back on his time as the drum major of the University of Michigan Marching Band ahead of the university’s return to the Rose Bowl Game this year.
Dr. Weir led the University of Michigan Marching Band in the 1992 Rose Bowl Game and his time in band inspired him to start the Rodney Weir Marching Band Scholarship at Berrien Community Foundation.
While Dr. Weir is reflecting back on his time at the Rose Bowl Game, BCF scholarship recipient Sophia Bomar of Bridgman looked forward to her time marching with the Michigan Marching Band in this year’s events in Pasadena, California.
Seeing the educational value of participating in marching band and subsequently the Rose Bowl Game activities, Dr. Weir started the Rodney Weir Marching Band Scholarship at the Berrien Community Foundation. His goal is to encourage high school band members from Berrien County to participate in marching band in college. The fully endowed scholarship was first awarded in 2017, and recipients have gone on to participate in the Michigan Marching Band and WMU’s Bronco Marching Band. The scholarship is open to all Berrien County students who participated in marching band in high school and intend to continue their band participation at the college level.
“I am most excited about marching in the Rose Parade,” Sophia said. “Before I even knew anything about Michigan football, I remember watching the Rose Parade on television and I have always loved it.”
BCF President Lisa Cripps-Downey loves to see foundation scholarships at work. “It’s very exciting to see education at work through our donors like Dr. Weir and our scholars like Sophia. The foundation is thrilled for its members to be a part of the ongoing traditions of the Tournament of Roses and the values it represents.”