The Max Mitchell Grant Program is designed to help support the members of the National Intercollegiate Band (NIB). Brothers and Sisters in Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma are, by definition, outstanding band members. And based on our purposes, it is our obligation to honor those members who exhibit the best traits of musicianship. One way that we honor band members at the college level is the NIB. The NIB is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many young musicians, which has been assembled each biennium since its founding.
However, the costs for musicians to participate and perform with the NIB can be high. Beyond the costs covered by Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma, each individual NIB musician can easily incur over $1,000 in their own unreimbursed expenses, including the costs of travel, concert attire, and several meals.
Any LAA of Kappa Kappa Psi (including LAAs established as joint local alumni associations by approval of the Tau Beta Sigma Alumni Association) is invited to participate in the KKΨAA Max Mitchell Grant Program for NIB musicians. Each participating LAA may contribute at one of three levels for the relevant biennium:
Individual brothers wishing to participate in the KKΨAA Max Mitchell Grant Program are strongly encouraged to donate money toward an LAA’s participation in this program. In the alternative, such brothers may donate money to KKΨAA, which will serve as a “recipient of last resort” for such contributions (in order to allow LAAs to serve as the primary contributors to this program.)
Congratulations to the 18 National Intercollegiate Band Members who received the Max Mitchell Grant. This group performed under the direction of Rodney Dorsey and premiered a piece by Michael Daugherty.
Thank you to all the donors that made these grants possible.
Why is it Named the Max Mitchell Grant Program?
Max Mitchell was the eleventh National President of Kappa Kappa Psi, and his service to our fraternity was integral in the creation and continuation of the National Intercollegiate Band. The first NIB concert on March 7, 1947 featured ten conductors, including noteworthy brothers like William A. Scroggs (the fraternity’s founder), Bohumil Makovsky (the fraternity’s “Guiding Spirit”), F. Lee Bowling, (the then-current National President of the fraternity). Max Mitchell was also one of the first NIB conductors, and he became the fraternity’s National President that year.
A former Director of Bands at Oklahoma State University, Max Mitchell worked to expand the fraternity to more college campuses and to help Tau Beta Sigma become a national sorority and “sister” organization to Kappa Kappa Psi. He also worked to advance the idea that the Fraternity was not only an “honorary” organization, but should serve as a “service” unit as well. Years after his term as the fraternity’s National President, he served as Interim National Executive Director of Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma for a short time in 1975. Max Mitchell was among the first recipients of the Bohumil Makovsky Memorial Award in 1980, and he and his wife Susan received the Distinguished Service to Music Medal for fraternity service during the 1989-1991 biennium
Why Should My LAA Participate?
LAAs are encourage to participate in the KKΨAA Max Mitchell Grant Program, as it provides a worthwhile service opportunity, an initiative that may prompt additional brothers to join the LAAs, and a focus for fundraising activities. Because the KKΨAA Max Mitchell Grant Program aims to support the participation of outstanding musicians from across the country in the NIB, it is not intended to displace any LAA’s existing NIB grant programs, which are usually directed to support NIB musicians from specific colleges or universities, regions, or districts
How are Recipients Selected?
To determine the NIB musicians who will receive grants through the KKΨAA Max Mitchell Grant Program, the AABOD will develop one or more essay prompts for inclusion with NIB musician application materials. NIB applicants wishing to apply for grants through the KKΨAA Max Mitchell Grant Program will provide responses to these essay prompts. One of these essay prompts will be optional and will allow applicants to describe issues related to their particular financial need. These applications will not include any information regarding an applicant’s membership in either Kappa Kappa Psi or Tau Beta Sigma, as the program aims to provide grants to worthy applicants, regardless of such membership status or the applicant’s involvement in a particular chapter or district.
Once the NIB members are selected, the Musicianship Committee will review the essay responses provided by any of the selected musicians. Within two weeks of the NIB members’ notification of their acceptance in the ensemble, the Musicianship Committee will provide recommendations to the AABOD regarding NIB members to receive grants through the program. The AABOD will then promptly consider and vote upon the award of these NIB member grants, and the AABOD will notify the NIB members who have been awarded grants.
How Much Does Each Recipient Receive?
All NIB member grants under this program will be $250 (although this amount may be subject to change at the discretion of the AABOD, depending on future program participation by LAAs). The number of NIB member grants awarded per biennium will be dependent on the total amount of contributions made each biennium.
Will You Give Out All Money in the Max Mitchell Fund Each Biennium?
The eventual goal is to provide financial support for each and every member of the NIB. The goal is to give out as many grants as possible each biennium. In the event that there is left over money in the Max Mitchell Grant Fund, that money will carry over to the next biennium to support future NIB participants.