Scholarship Page

RAMI Scholarships

Katie Colletta

2009 Gary S. Wilmer / RAMI Music Scholarship

Katie Colletta is an Associate Artistic Director and actress at a professional theatre in Iowa called Old Creamery Theatre. This is her seventh season with the company and in addition to performing regularly, she also choreographs, directs, stage manages, music directs, teaches acting classes and serves the company in an administrative capacity. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Millikin University with her Bachelor's of Fine Arts Degree in 2013. Favorite professional performing credits include Ariel (Footloose), Marty (Grease), Mimi (A Comedy of Tenors), Nancy (Fancy Nancy), and Fern (Charlotte's Web).  She will next be appearing as Sophie in Mamma Mia this fall as well as serving as the choreographer for the production.

While at Millikin University she met her husband, Keegan, who is also a performer and administrator at Old Creamery Theatre. They have two cats named Lulu and Penny and live in Fairfax, Iowa. She would like to thank the RAMI Committee for their support and is so grateful that music and theatre are such a vital part of her daily life. 


The Rockford Area Music Industry, Inc. has awarded over $70,000 to over 50 students to support their desire to study music.

The Gary S. WIlmer / RAMI Music Scholarship

The Gary S. Wilmer Memorial Trust was established in 1996 to honor the memory and continue the legacy of Gary Wilmer by awarding scholarships to students who wish to pursue and education in music. Gary was the founder & publisher of RAM Magazine, a Rockford area music monthly, and a founding organizer of the RAMI awards. Joe Guzzardo, owner of Guzzardo Music, said of Gary, "He was thoughtful and sensitive, and thoroughly understood the problems and needs of local music and musicians." Gary could do it all, be it organizing benefits, booking bands, running sound or lights, helping new music club owners or encouraging new talent to persevere. As the president of his senior class at East High School, as a graduate of Rockford College and as a successful businessman, Gary's 43 years of living showed that education is a marvelous "conductor" of a successful musical life.

It is the sincere hope of the RAMI scholarship committee that the recipients of this scholarship will carry on Gary's legacy with pride.

Scholarship Selection Criteria

- Be a college-bound student in Boone, Ogle or Winnebago County;
- Be 19 years old or younger as of the application deadline;
- Be attending or planning to attend an accredited two- or four-year college/university;
- Have a minimum GPA of 2.5/4.0;
- Demonstrate an ongoing commitment to further their musical education throughout college; and
- Be actively involved in school or community musical groups.
- Previous Wilmer scholarship recipients are not eligible to reapply.

Deadline January 1st. For more information and online application forms, visit www.cfnil.org.
 

RAMI Young Artists Music Scholarship

RAMI funds several programs through The Music Academy in Rockford. Each student is nominated by the staff of the Music Academy and must demonstrate financial need. Scholarship covers one year of study.

PO Box 4128, Rockford, IL 61110
ramicommittee @ ramiawards.com

Rockford Area Music Industry, Inc. is classified as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization by the standards of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Therefore, any donations to the Rockford Area Music Industry, Inc. may be tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.