Giving Thanks: Scholarship Helps Music Comp Major Reach Dream of Integrating Art into K-12 Learning
This January, members of our Fulbright College Family are kicking off the new year by sharing expressions of gratitude, letters of thanks and their appreciation for those who have helped make their educational journey possible.
Meet Aundre Wesley, who thanks to the Fenner Upchurch Russell Travel Endowed Award, is one step closer to his dream of creating curriculum that integrates art into mathematics and language arts learning.
Fenner Upchurch Russell Travel Endowed Award Recipient Aundre Wesley
Name: Aundre Wesley
Hometown: Houston, Texas
Graduation: 2026
Major(s)/Minor(s): Majoring in Music Composition
Activities and Interests: I enjoy playing music, tennis and basketball. One of my favorite pastimes is developing novel geometric proofs. Also, I’ve spent a great deal of time analyzing kinematic data.
Career Aspirations: I am in the process of transitioning from a performer to a composer/choreographer. I hope to provide a curriculum for art integration into mathematics and the Language Arts. With this conference, I’m one step closer to creating the branding I set out to achieve since 2016.
In his own words:
Dear Mr. Russell,
I want to thank you for the scholarship. My time at the U of A’s Department of Music has allowed me to develop as a composer. Additionally, the contribution will allow me to not only continue my pursuit of study but also increase my chances of developing a career after I graduate.
As for myself, I am a former Marine Bandsman who was stationed in New Orleans. I was a snare drummer during my time there and have fond memories of serving my country through music.
For the last 5 years, I’ve been a math teacher in Austin and New Orleans. During this time, I was able to develop my motion capture research for music technique. This research has helped me connect math pedagogy with a real-life application of mathematics to the arts.
I hope to develop this experience into a curriculum for both math and ESL; since a large portion of the student population I have served were emergent bilingual students. This scholarship will allow me to attend a conference in D.C.; where I can demonstrate the effectiveness of the curriculum I’ve developed so far.
As I mentioned before, this scholarship will enable me to further the work I’ve been developing for the last decade. I appreciate the scholarship and want to thank you for your support.
Thank You,
Aundre Wesley
For more information about the Fenner Upchurch Russell Travel Endowed Award or to make a gift to support the college’s students, faculty, or staff, please contact Fulbright College’s Office of Development and External Relations at 479-575-3712 or fulbright@uark.edu.