A Tune to Treasure

Josh Hillard ’01

It was the familial vibe between faculty and students within the IUP music department that helped create a lifelong impact on this career music educator. Some of his greatest and lifelong friendships were forged inside of Cogswell. Music was always a part of Josh’s family. His grandparents were both musicians and fans of classical and sacred music. They had a ministry mindset and instilled in Josh to “leave it better than you found it.” Josh and his family established the John and Delores Hillard Scholarship for Diversity in Fine Arts to give students a chance to pursue higher education. Being such a young benefactor is unusual, but, the life lessons, learned from his grandparents to be good stewards and to help others, have instilled in Josh something that he and his wife, Jamie (Anna) Hillard ’00, hope to pass down to their children—a sense of responsibility and a deep understanding of the impact of philanthropy— and of course, the lifelong love of music.

Jaelissa Akers

Having parents who are house parents for the Milton Hershey School (MHS) means that Jaelissa is used to sharing. For her entire life, she has lived on the MHS campus sharing her parents with up to eight other girls at a time. Music was a common denominator in their family of diverse backgrounds. She witnessed how music could lift the spirit and was inspired to become a music educator. As a recipient of the John and Delores Hillard Scholarship for Diversity in Fine Arts, she values the assistance it offers. Without scholarship funding, she would not have been able to attend IUP. She credits the scholarship funds that enabled her to stay at IUP. And she can focus on her studies and limit the stress that comes with juggling a job and school. She was able to intern at the Fund for Advancement of Minorities through Education Academy in Pittsburgh over a summer. IUP had so much to offer and Jaelissa is grateful to the faculty who care about and create a close-knit bond with their students. “They want you to succeed, that’s all they want you to do,” she said. “They want to teach you as much knowledge as they can teach you and see the great things that you’re going to do.”

Jaelissa has performed in productions, played the violin in the IUP Symphony Orchestra, and sang with the Crimson Chords, University Chorale, and Chamber Singers. Jaelissa is excited about the future and hopes to one day pursue a master’s degree in music therapy.