September 30, 2025
Rutherford Arts Alliance
The Rutherford Arts Alliance (RAA) has proudly awarded its first round of needs-based arts scholarships to 10 K-12 students across Rutherford County, providing musical instruments and lessons to support their creative development.
Students from Smyrna Middle, Oakland Middle, and Siegel High were among the inaugural recipients. The program was made possible through seed funding from the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee and generous contributions from private donors.
“There are so many people to thank for making these scholarships a reality,” said Jeff Lysyczyn, executive director of RAA. “When I came on board as RAA’s first executive director, one of my first goals was to build our relationship with the community’s young creative learners through partnership with the teachers who so passionately nurture their creativity.”
Cody Dailey, band instructor at Smyrna Middle School adds, "For our students, this scholarship is so much more than free private lessons. It's proof we believe in their potential, which then makes them believe in themselves. That's the most powerful gift we can give these young artists."
The scholarship program was developed in collaboration with educators assembled by RAA board members as well as Lindsay Halford, Fine Arts Coordinator for Rutherford County Schools, and DeeDee Potter of Murfreesboro City Schools. Together, they crafted awards in response to a shared belief that no child should be denied the opportunity to participate in the arts because their family can’t afford it.
Building on the success of the inaugural season, RAA has already secured a $22,300 grant from The Christy-Houston Foundation, Inc. to fund the next round of scholarships.
Teachers and guardians interested in future application periods can find updates and details at www.rutherfordartsalliance.org/k12-arts-scholarship.
TOP PHOTO (l-r): Dr. Takisha Ferguson (Principal, Smyrna Middle School), Cody Dailey (Band Instructor, SMS), Dr. Lucy Langworthy (Board Member, Rutherford Arts Alliance), Smyrna Middle School scholarship recipients, Jeff Lysyczyn (Executive Director, RAA), Emily Swafford (Band Instructor, SMS), Dr. Lindsay Halford (Fine Arts Coordinator, Rutherford County Schools)
MIDDLE PHOTO (l-r): Jeff Lysyczyn (Executive Director, RAA), Oakland Middle School scholarship recipients, John Hearnes (Oakland Middle Band instructor)
BOTTOM PHOTO (l-r): Susan Gulley (Board Member, Rutherford Arts Alliance), Ron Alley (RAA Board Alumnus), Jeff Lysyczyn (Executive Director, RAA), Kimberly Sprinkle (Operations Manager, The Christy-Houston Foundation, Inc.), Anne C. Davis (President, The Christy-Houston Foundation, Inc.)