Four students in diocesan schools were awarded Gertrude C. Kuehefuhs music scholarships.
Outstanding instrumental and choral music students receive $250 toward Catholic high school or college tuition. Two scholarships are awarded to high school seniors and two to eighth-graders.
Kuehefuhs was a longtime member of the Columbus St. Joseph Cathedral choir. She also served as a music instructor at Ohio State University.
High school instrumental music
Steven Simpson
Steven Simpson is a graduate of New Philadelphia Tuscarawas Central Catholic High School, where he was active in campus ministry and planned music for school Masses. Simpson said learning liturgical music helped him grow in faith. He credited playing piano at Mass for his desire to attend Mass consistently.
He was awarded a 12th-year ribbon from the Tusc-Holmes Music Teachers Association for his 12 years of playing piano. He has performed at nursing homes and museums during the Christmas season.
His other school activities include mock trial, Youth-to-Youth, Scholar Challenge, music ministry, Just Write, Scouting, cross country and track and field. He is an altar server, lector and Eucharistic minister at his parish, New Philadelphia Sacred Heart. He plans to attend the University of Mount Union and study psychology with hopes to attend medical school and become a psychiatrist in the future.
High school choral music
Jaclyn Connell
Jaclyn Connell is a graduate of Zanesville Bishop Rosecrans High School, where she was a choir member and cantor for school Masses. She is a three-time recipient of the Zanesville Rotary Club Music Award in Choral Music. She received superior ratings for solo and ensemble.
Connell also plays the piano and participates in community theater. She serves as a cantor at her parish, Zanesville St. Nicholas Church. Other activities include drama club, mock trial, soccer, track, volunteer at the Carr Center, National Honor Society, house director, class president and intern for Short North Stage.
She plans to attend Coastal Carolina University, where she will study fine arts in musical theatre and pursue a career in theater and acting.
Elementary instrumental music
Anthony Amweg
Anthony Amweg, an eighth-grade graduate of Columbus St. Andrew School, will attend Columbus Bishop Watterson High School and participate in the marching and concert bands. He has been a part of the Bishop Watterson Area Honor Band, comprised of students in parochial schools that feed into the high school, for the past three years.
He is a trombone player and was a member of the advanced and honor bands at his elementary school. He was also active in the school’s spring musical, student religion committee, student council, safety patrol, math counts, basketball and baseball.
He served as an altar server, parish festival and fish fry volunteer and helped with the St. Vincent de Paul Club sandwich making. He received the 2026 Youth of the Year Award from the Knights of Columbus. He also served as a SACRED Bible School group leader and was active in Catholic Youth Summer Camp.
Elementary choral music
Elizabeth Tetreault
Elizabeth Tetreault, an eighth-grade graduate of Reynoldsburg St. Pius X School, will attend Columbus Bishop Hartley School, where she plans to be involved in school theater.
Tetreault was a member of her elementary’s honor choir, jazz band and was a percussion section leader in the school band. She also assisted the beginner band percussion section.
She served as a cantor for weekly school Masses. Other school activities included volleyball, Drama Club, choir, spring musical, student council, morning announcements, Girl Scouts and Beta Club. She plans to attend college after Hartley and pursue a career working with children.