Nininger and Naumann Win Veatch Fund Scholarships

Choosing who would win the second annual Justin Veatch Fund music scholarship this year was a difficult decision. The competition was so close that the Justin Veatch Fund gave a second, smaller scholarship.

Graduating Yorktown senior Erika Nininger received a $1,000 scholarship in honor of Justin Veatch last week at Yorktown High School. Beatrice Naumann received the second scholarship. The announcement was made during the school's Senior Awards Night.

"Either one of them deserved the scholarship," Jeff Veatch said. "Instead of dividing it in two, we gave a second smaller amount."

He did not say what the second amount was.

"That happens a lot when you select kids for awards," said Yorktown High Principal Joseph DeGennaro, commenting on the surprise second scholarship. "We have a lot of depth and talent in our senior class." 

Justin Veatch' s family and friends set up the fund to honor his memory. He was a talented singer, songwriter and musician. Veatch died in his sleep as a result of an accidental drug overdose at age 17 in 2008.  

"It was the first thing we did," Veatch said. "We wanted to figure out a way to honor him and music was everything in his life. He wanted a career in music."

To win the scholarship, students had to go to the fund website, download the application and fill it out, write an essay, and submit samples of their musical work, Veatch said.

Nininger, a singer/songwriter who plays piano, guitar, and clarinet, submitted a CD with 21 original songs. She will be going to Ohio Wesleyan in the fall. 

"This award means so much to me," she said. "I completely believe in the positive effects of music, and really everything that The Justin Veatch Fund stands for. It's an honor that I will keep with me wherever I go."

Naumann is an accomplished violinist, who performed at Carnegie Hall in May. She will be attending Montclair State University in New Jersey. 

Veatch played every musical instrument he ever picked up, although he usually came back to keyboards his father said. He wrote many songs and formed his own musical group, The Ivoryton Piano Factory. He mastered a sophisticated computer program to record his own music, his father added.

"We do what we do today because of what he was," he said.

"I remember Justin," DeGennaro said . "He was a really nice kid and obviously musically gifted."

Several of Veatch's songs have been recorded by musicians around the world. In fact, royalties from Justin's music have funded the scholarships so far, Jeff Veatch said. That will not last much longer and the fund is seeking donations, his father said.

The Justin Veatch Fund also co-sponsors a monthly Open Mic Night at the Yorktown Teen Center. The events are on hold for the summer, but will resume in the fall, Veatch said.

The recipient of the 2009 Veatch scholarship was Stephen Graniero, who is now a student at Purchase College. Justin would have graduated from Yorktown High School in 2009.