Rajant establishes scholarship endowment to support KCTM students, announces first recipient
Rajant Corporation, headquartered in Malvern, Pennsylvania, expanded operations to Morehead in 2015. Since that time, the company has demonstrated its support for Morehead State University students. Rajant recently announced a gift of $50,000 to establish a scholarship endowment through the MSU Foundation. The Hal Rogers Traditional Music Scholarship Endowment will support students studying at the Kentucky Center for Traditional Music (KCTM).
“We have a sincere appreciation of Morehead State University’s KCTM Program and a deep respect for the tradition it represents across Kentucky,” said Rajant CEO and co-founder Robert Schena.
The scholarship was established in honor of U.S. Representative Hal Rogers (R-Somerset). Rep. Rogers has served Kentucky’s 5th Congressional District since 1981 and is the longest-serving member of Congress from Kentucky. Rajant named this scholarship to honor Roger’s commitment to economic development, a strong national defense and America’s a prosperous future. This scholarship also represents Roger’s commitment to preserving one of the treasures of Appalachia: traditional music.
The first recipient of the scholarship award is Meghan Reece Bryant. Bryant is a senior from Floyd County, double majoring in traditional music and elementary education. She has attended the Cowan Creek Mountain Music School and participated in the Kentucky Opry Junior Pros Program. She has performed with the Big Sandy Singers Band and MSU’s Mountain Music Ambassadors.
Bryant’s career goals include teaching at the elementary level, preferably as a music teacher and working as a professional musician. She also plans to give private fiddle, mandolin and guitar lessons to residents in her community.
Bryant, along with other faculty, staff and students from KCTM, performed on Thursday, Sept. 16, at Rajant’s grand opening celebration of its new location.
“I am so appreciative of this scholarship and Rajant Corporation’s investment in my future,” Bryant said. “It means so much to me to have Rajant’s support and I know this scholarship will benefit my education in many ways.”
Rajant has been operating a manufacturing facility on Main Street in Morehead since 2015. Their new location, located at the MMRC Industrial Park, is a 48,000 square-foot facility on nearly 15 acres, five times the size of its original location. The company plans to expand its workforce by hiring around 26 new employees. To learn more about Rajant, visit www.rajant.com.
For more information on this scholarship, or to establish your own, contact MSU’s Office of Alumni Relations and Development at 606-783-2033, email giving@moreheadstate.edu or visit alumni.moreheadstate.edu/give to contribute today.
Photo, top: (left to right) MSU President Dr. Jay Morgan, Raymond McLain, director of the Kentucky Center for Traditional Music, U.S. Representative Hal Rogers (R-Somerset), MSU senior and scholarship recipient Meghan Bryant, and Rajant Corporation CEO and co-founder Robert Schena joined KCTM students to celebrate the establishment of the Hal Rogers Traditional Music Scholarship Endowment.
Photo, right: MSU President Dr. Jay Morgan (right) presents the the Hal Rogers Traditional Music Scholarship to Meghan Bryant (left), a senior double-majoring in traditional music and elementary education. The scholarship was established by the Rajant Corporation in honor of Congressman Rogers and his commitment to preserving traditional music.
