YPSILANTI, MI — Eastern Michigan University is offering eligible students a $4,000 scholarship to join its Marching Band, adding a financial incentive to one of the school’s best-known traditions. The award is designed to help students take part in the ensemble while pursuing any academic major, not just music.
The scholarship is structured as $1,000 per year for four years, and students who meet the marching band requirements can apply. EMU leaders say the idea is meant to recognize the time and commitment that band members invest while also drawing more students into the program.
Scholarship opens the band to students in any major
EMU says students do not need to major in music to qualify for the scholarship. That matters because the Marching Band is already made up largely of students from across the university, with only about 40% of members coming from music programs.
The rest of the ensemble includes students studying in a wide range of fields. By offering support to participants regardless of intended major, the university is emphasizing that the band is part of campus life for many different kinds of students, not a program reserved for performers alone.
J. Nick Smith, associate director of bands and director of athletic bands, said scholarship programs like this are used by marching bands at colleges around the country. He said he was pleased that EMU’s leadership chose to pursue the opportunity because it can help the university attract more students and reward the work they put into the group.
A 132-year tradition known as the Pride of the Peninsula
Known as the “Pride of the Peninsula,” EMU’s Marching Band has been part of the university for 132 years. The ensemble performs at athletic events and at other university and community gatherings, giving students a public role in campus life throughout the year.
The group also offers a broad musical experience. In addition to traditional performances, the band has collaborated with the piano-rock duo Drew & Kin and with The Temptations, including EMU alum and Detroit native Jawan M. Jackson, who joined the group in 2022.
Those partnerships reflect the band’s blend of school spirit and performance opportunities. For students, the program is not only about game-day appearances but also about taking part in a high-visibility campus organization with a long history and a range of outlets.
EMU leaders say the band helps build lasting community
EMU President Brendan Kelly said the marching band fits squarely with the university’s emphasis on community. As a two-time alum, he said he is proud of the band’s momentum over the years and excited to support students who want to be part of something memorable.
Kelly described the college experience as a place to find and build community, saying the marching band reflects that goal. He said the scholarship is meant for students who want to join a movement they will remember and be proud of long after graduation.
That framing places the scholarship in a broader student-life context. At EMU, the band is not presented simply as an extracurricular activity, but as a shared experience that can shape a student’s sense of belonging during college and beyond.
Skills and habits students can carry beyond graduation
Smith said the program gives students much more than music and marching practice. According to him, participants build close friendships, develop leadership skills, strengthen professionalism and time management, and learn to hold themselves to high expectations.
He also said students gain advanced musicianship and marching skills through their involvement. In his view, those lessons can become immediately useful after graduation because they add to a student’s overall set of career-ready abilities.
EMU says the experience is meant to shape students in practical ways as well as artistic ones. That combination of discipline, performance and teamwork is part of what the university is highlighting as it tries to bring more students into the band.
How students can learn more about the opportunity
The scholarship is open to students regardless of intended major, as long as they meet the marching band requirements. EMU is directing interested students to the band webpage for more information about joining the ensemble and applying for scholarship support.
The university is also pointing students to the band’s YouTube page, where they can view past performances and get a sense of the group’s style and range. For students considering involvement, those materials offer a closer look at what participation involves.
EMU’s broader mission statement says the university connects more than 12,000 students to applied learning, research, internships, clinical experiences, student teaching and community-engaged learning. The marching band scholarship adds another path for students to become part of that campus experience.
