By ALLISON COLLIER, Contributor
The Vandegrift High School Viper Choir Boosters awarded $3,000 in tuition scholarships at the Viper Choir Banquet on May 18 at the University of Texas Golf Club.
Viper Choir Boosters award scholarships to those students who have made significant contributions to the VHS choir. The scholarships are non-renewable and non-discriminatory.
The number of scholarships and amounts awarded are determined by the executive board annually. This year, two awards of $1,000 each and two awards of $500 each were presented to seniors who completed a rigorous application process and were judged to be the top four scores by an independent panel of judges.
The Viper Choir Boosters would like to thank this year’s judges, Kristin Burritt, former Leander Middle School choir director, Andrew Perrone, VHS physics and robotics instructor, and Mackenzie Malone, former Canyon Ridge Middle School choir director.
Vandegrift class of 2021 choir students who plan to attend a qualified college or university within the next year were eligible to apply. The applicants have had to participate not only in daily classes, but also concerts, solo performances, ensembles, etc. Applicants are judged on essay, choir activities, academics, other school and community activities and personal growth. This year’s recipients are:
Riley Galligher – $1,000 award – University of Texas at Austin
Sarah Lum – $1,000 award – University of Texas at Austin
Andrea Patriarca – $500 award – Baylor University
Megan Schmitt – $500 award – University of Connecticut
Viper choir awards banquet
By ALLISON COLLIER
Contributor
The Vandegrift Viper choir held its annual awards banquet on May 18 at the University of Texas Golf Club. Highlights of the evening were the students singing in person, together, for the first time this year and performing “The Ground” and “Irish Blessing”.
Students were recognized for their accomplishments during the year, including participants in the All State Choir Audition Process and Solo Finals contests.
Non varsity awards
Concert Treble Choir
Leadership Award – Vaishali Raman
Service Award – Reese Whitaker & Eden McSpadden
Musicianship Award – Casey Caldwell
Concert Tenor/Bass
Leadership Award – Ben Frollo
Service Award – James Penver
Musicianship Award – Reuben Varghese
A Cappella
Leadership Award – Joylynn Jogee
Service Award – Meghan Wood
Musicianship Award – Avani Rayasa
Varsity awards
Chorale Women
Leadership Award – Riley Galligher
Service Award – Andrea Patriarca
Musicianship Award – Maura Connors
Chorale Men
Leadership Award – Noah Levine
Service Award – Mikey Gleason
Musicianship Award – Jack Strauss
Second to None
Andrea Patriarca, Mikey Gleason
Viper Choir Director’s Award
This award is an all-encompassing SENIOR award for Leadership, Service, and Musicianship. This student is chosen by the directors and is a person that represents the Viper Choir Program at the highest levels every single day and has done so for four years.
Sarah Lum
Pictured L to R: Kristin Burritt-Judge, Cherisse Smyser-President, Viper Choir Boosters, Megan Schmitt, Andrea Patriarca, Sarah Lum, Riley Galligher and Allison Collier, Viper Choir Boosters. 
L to R – Ms. Chandler, Casey Caldwell, Vaishali Raman, Eden McSpadden, Reese Whitaker, Mr. Zook 
Maura Connors, Neha Poreddy, Raine Collier & Phoebe Smyser 
Joylynn Jogee
Viper Choir Student Leadership 2021-22
Co presidents – Raine Collier, Phoebe Smyser
Officers- Luke Pronga, Maura Connors, Neha Poreddy
Each year, the directors award Individuals in the various choirs the following:
The Leadership Award goes to a student that leads their section and their ensemble by the way they work in class every day. This award goes to the student that has had the strongest work-ethic, even on days when it was difficult, and who encourages the students around them either verbally or by example to always work hard.
The Service Award goes to a student that has throughout the year served their ensemble and the VHS choir program. This can look like volunteering to move risers, cleaning the choir room, teaching choreography, or anything above and beyond just coming to class. True leaders are ones that serve alongside those they are leading.
The Musicianship Award goes to a student that has demonstrated a high level of musical competence. This student is a strong sight reader and leads their section by demonstrating high levels of musicianship within their choir.