The Bob Jones University Division of Music announced today the launch of the Dwight and Gwen Gustafson Music Scholarship Endowment that will provide merit scholarships to students enrolled in academic programs and ensembles in the BJU Division of Music.
Dr. Dwight Gustafson served on the BJU faculty and staff for 45 years, including 43 as dean of the School of Fine Arts. A gifted administrator, he was also a composer, conductor, actor and author. He retired in 1997. Gwen Gustafson taught as a member of the music faculty 34 years, retiring in 2000.
The endowment was established with a gift from Sandy and Donna Hastie. “A close friend introduced us to BJU,” said Mr. Sandy Hastie, co-founder of the endowment. “Through several visits, we became familiar with the University’s mission and saw firsthand the caliber of musical excellence and the quality and maturity of the students that BJU produces. BJU is successfully integrating artistry and faith in such a manner as to develop leaders of tomorrow who will make a difference in this world. We started the Gustafson Endowment because we wanted to be a part of perpetuating this legacy and preparing tomorrow’s leaders.”
“We are so thankful to partner with Sandy and Donna Hastie, whose generous gift made possible the establishment of this key endowment,” said Dr. Michael Moore, chair of the Division of Music. “This will be a great benefit to student musicians committed to developing their artistry in the service of God’s glory and the good of others, just as the Gustafsons did for so many years.”
“We are very grateful to BJU and to the donors for establishing this endowment in honor of our parents,” said David Gustafson, speaking on behalf of the Gustafson family. “They would have resisted the honor to themselves, but they would have been proud to have their names associated with an attempt to promote the mission of BJU’s music program and would have warmly welcomed, as partners in that work, all those who want to contribute to music scholarships at BJU.”
“We trust several others will join in contributing to this endowment,” said Moore. “It’s been encouraging to see our music enrollment growing, and we know music scholarships are a big factor in a student’s decision to attend BJU.”
Tax-deductible gifts may be made to the endowment online or mailed to Office of Advancement, Bob Jones University, 1700 Wade Hampton Blvd, Greenville, SC 29614. Checks should be made payable to BJU, Inc. with “Gustafson Endowment” written on the memo line.
BJU’s Division of Music is a community of students and faculty committed to pursuing and sharing the beauty of God through musical excellence and redemptive artistry. Through degree programs in music, music education, church ministries, pedagogy, composition, and performance students develop both the skills and the vision to steward their gifts to impact lives in communities of learning, worship, and creativity through the art of music.
