A note of kindness: Sharing the gift of music and education

Sara Studebaker (Class of 1975) shared her love of music throughout her time as a Morehead State University student and throughout a 30-year teaching career. Gifted as a bassoonist, pianist and arranger, she lived for music whether she was on stage or in the classroom up until she passed away from terminal liver cancer on Aug. 3, 2017.

Studebaker graduated from MSU with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education. She returned to her home state of Ohio and taught at Mendon-Union High School, St. Henry High School and the Sycamore Community School District before retiring in 2008.

A year after she retired, she established the Studebaker-Mueller Endowed Scholarship Fund in 2009 to benefit MSU students also pursuing a career in music education.

Named in honor of an influential MSU professor, Dr. Frederick Mueller, the scholarship benefits full-time music education majors with bassoon as their primary instrument.

After her husband, Jim, recently made a substantial gift to grow the fund, MSU named The Sara Suzanne Student Reception Area in the Adron Doran University Center in her honor, ensuring her legacy for decades to come.