Franklin Regional senior earns $20,000 Bob Hope Band Scholarship Award

Franklin Regional senior Emma Martin is the recipient of the Bob Hope Band Scholarship Award, given annually to a band marching in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and to one of its members.

But to keep it a surprise for Martin, her own mother had to essentially become a covert agent within the family.

“In previous years, they would announce the winner before the bands even went to New York,” said Janice Martin of Murrysville. “But they changed things up, called me to let me know and then told me we had to keep it a secret.”

The $20,000 scholarship is split between Martin and the Franklin Regional band. Each will receive $10,000. Martin plans to use the scholarship to pursue a nursing degree, and band officials plan to use the money to boost their own in-house scholarship program.

“Our band boosters present a small award, $500, to one senior marching band member each spring by way of their own essay contest,” said band director Kevin Pollock. “As a way of ‘paying forward’ the generosity of the Bob and Dolores Hope Foundation, we are increasing that monetary award for the next five to 10 years in Bob Hope’s honor, thereby making it far more meaningful to a very deserving student.“

The award is judged by a panel from Macy’s on the merit of an essay competition about Bob Hope, his contribution to America and the importance of giving back.

Martin received the scholarship at a surprise announcement on Tuesday .

Her mother managed to keep a lid on things, although there were some close calls.

“The other day I emailed (Hope Foundation spokeswoman) Gail Parenteau and told her I had to ignore her call,” Janice Martin said. “My husband answered, brought my phone over and said, ‘There’s a Gail calling.’ I told him I don’t know who that is and it must be a solicitation call. I think he believed me.”

Martin previously played trumpet in the marching band, but switched to the Silks her sophomore year.

Her winning essay explores similarities between her life and Bob Hope’s.

“One of the parts I love most about our band is how proud we make our hometown when they see us at parades such at the Macy’s (parade), and it’s just another way I can give back to them,” Martin wrote. “The way Mr. Hope felt about his millions of fans is similar to the way I feel about my hometown, and I couldn’t be more honored.”

“I’m just so proud,” her mother said. “I want to make this as exciting for Emma and our family as I was when I got that call a few weeks ago.”