Inaugural Stockton Scholarships Awarded

The Lafayette College Arts Society and Lafayette Arts Alumni Network announced the recipients of the inaugural recipients of the J. Larry Stockton Scholarship for Private Music Lessons.

Jessica Heske ’25 and Ramon Byfield ’25

Congratulations to Ramon Byfield ’25 and Jessica Heske ’25.

Byfield, a computer science and economics major, plans to take piano lessons for the first time. “I think that a well-rounded life shouldn’t just pertain to my career goals in the fields of technology and economics,” he says. “I want to nurture and express creativity, building a personal life that is as satisfying as possible.”

Heske, a psychology major, is an officer of Lafayette Association of Visual Artists and enjoys watching her friends perform in theater productions and music ensembles. After playing the piano as a child, she plans to take guitar lessons.

“In middle school, I had to choose between visual arts, choir, or band when I wanted to do all of them,” she says. “I am glad that I can pursue music now.”

The new scholarship honors Professor J. Larry Stockton of the Department of Music, who retires this year after 45 years at Lafayette, and funds one semester of lessons offered by the department’s roster of instructors.

Recipients were chosen by an alumni committee. “Dr. Stockton seeks to include all musicians, including those who have had no formal training or ensemble experience,” says committee member Ilana Goldstein ’19.

The scholarships are the result of 20 years of fundraising by the Arts Society and the Arts Alumni Network. If you’d like to make a gift to the Stockton Scholarship, visit development.lafayette.edu or call (610) 330-5037.