For over 80 years, the UC Bearcat Bands has been an instrumental source of instilling pride and building camaraderie throughout the University. With over 200 members, the bands provide opportunities for students to showcase their musical talents and leadership abilities. Since several costs associated with the bands activities are assumed by the participants, one of the goals of the program is to provide students with incremental scholarships.
Julie marched during her Sophomore year with the band playing clarinet, before she was able to fulfill a lifelong dream to become a college drum major in her Junior year. Julie was one of the University of Cincinnati drum majors for 3 years. She was extremely proud to be one of the band's drum majors. She was full of energy and enthusiasm in her work with the bands, and even after graduation she continued to work with the bands as a staff member. She always made friends, with both active and alumni members of the band.
Julie believed in education. She continued to complete her studies to earn a Master's Degree in Human Resources from another competitive university in the city. It was a humorous story around the house that she always said no matter what “I will never bleed blue!.... it will only be red and black!!”
Just days before her 34th birthday, she lost her battle to cancer. The last 15 years of her life we shared her with her second family, the University of Cincinnati Bearcat Bands.
She had Moxie, especially during her last 3 years of life. She continued to work full time, attending band rehearsals, going to football and basketball games, and all of the UC band concerts.
Life
Pride
Energy
Friendship
Education
Moxie
These are the attributes Julie possessed. We want to keep her memory alive by increasing the Julie Benken Memorial Drum Major Scholarship Fund to become an annual self-sustaining program. It is our goal to present an annual scholarship to an individual Drum Major who bests portrays Julie's attributes.
With your generous contribution, we will be able to keep both Julie's spirit and enthusiasm for the UC Bearcat Bands alive forever.
In 1988, members of the UC Bearcat Bands Alumni Association established the UC Band Scholarship Endowment Fund. The generosity of the Rockwern Foundation and the creation of the James Morand Endowed Scholarship Fund further strengthened the bands’ scholarship program in 2004.
With Julie’s passing in January 2007, her parents had a strong desire to preserve her passion and pride for the bands. This dream culminates in a new scholarship fund for Drum Majors. We are currently fundraising for the Julie Benken Memorial Drum Major Scholarship Fund to help it reach maturity.
Click Here for the Honor Roll of Donors
If you would like to receive more information about how to support the
UC Bearcat Bands, please contact Christa Anne Flueck at
The University of Cincinnati Foundation.
She may be reached at (513) 556-6294 direct, (888) 556-8889 toll free,
or via e-mail at christa.flueck@uc.edu.
