From left are Evelyn Nutt, Julia Spigai, Phillip Smith and Sarah Short. They are the 2019 Sam Pitcher Memorial Scholarship recipients. (Photo courtesy Karen Pitcher)

Four Ketchikan students have been awarded scholarships through the Sam Pitcher Memorial Scholarship Fund.

The students are 9th graders Sarah Short and Julia Spigai; and 10th graders Evelyn Nutt and Phillip Smith.

Each will receive $700. All plan to use the funds for the Sitka Fine Arts Camp, according to an announcement from Karen Pitcher. Nutt is also considering the University of Alaska Fairbanks Summer Music Academy.

Short was a 2017 scholarship recipient, as well. She is a percussionist who plays drums, marimba, and bass guitar. At the Sitka Fine Arts Camp, Short hopes to improve as a percussionist, and take classes in piano and voice.

Spigai plays clarinet and tenor saxophone. She hopes to learn more about music theory and jazz at the summer camp.

Nutt has studied flute, piano and bass guitar. She hopes to study music theory and classical music in a summer music program.

Smith is a percussionist and vocalist. He hopes to gain skills as a percussionist during the summer camp, and learn more about jazz and vocal skills.

Scholarship recipients are selected by a Ketchikan Area Arts and Humanities Council advisory committee, consisting of 10 people, including Sam’s mother, Karen Pitcher.

The scholarship started following Sam’s death in 2003 at age 16. His passion was music. Over the 16 years of the program, 76 scholarships have been awarded, totaling more than $40,000.