About Us...
BPBF Mission & History
The mission of the Bernie Powers Band Foundation is to help preserve, promote, and maintain the excellent music programs of the Sun Prairie Area School District.
On July 15th 2002, the Sun Prairie Band Boosters created the Sun Prairie Band Foundation, a separate non-profit, 501(c)3 organization dedicated to ensuring the long-term success of band music education in the Sun Prairie Area School District. The Foundation aspires to encourage private donations and bequests that will be used for special programs and scholarship needs that go beyond the normal operating expenses of the Band Booster organization.
On June 30, 2004, on the occasion of Bernie Powers' retirement from teaching band at Sun Prairie High School, the Sun Prairie Band Foundation changed its name to the Bernie Powers Band Foundation in honor of Mr. Powers' distinguished 26-year career as an accomplished educator, dynamic band director, and inspiring mentor to hundreds of students in Sun Prairie. Bernie Powers consistently taught the values and behaviors of respect, hard work, self-discipline, leadership, acceptance and quest for personal excellence. Bernie Powers’ mission as a teacher will serve as inspiration and has become the mission of this foundation.
On June 30, 2004, on the occasion of Bernie Powers' retirement from teaching band at Sun Prairie High School, the Sun Prairie Band Foundation changed its name to the Bernie Powers Band Foundation in honor of Mr. Powers' distinguished 26-year career as an accomplished educator, dynamic band director, and inspiring mentor to hundreds of students in Sun Prairie. Bernie Powers consistently taught the values and behaviors of respect, hard work, self-discipline, leadership, acceptance and quest for personal excellence. Bernie Powers’ mission as a teacher will serve as inspiration and has become the mission of this foundation.
A Man and His Vision - Bernie Powers
Bernie Powers was born in South Bend Indiana. After a few moves, his family settled in Madison. He graduated from Madison East High School and received his Bachelors and Masters degrees in Music Education from UW Platteville. His teaching career consisted of half of a year at Highland WI, one year in Mineral Point, seven years at Platteville Middle School, three years at Janesville Parker High School, and in 1978, he started a 26 year commitment in Sun Prairie. Bernie retired from Sun Prairie High School in 2004.
He had a fulfilling career as an accomplished educator, dynamic band director, and inspiring mentor to hundreds of students. Bernie Powers consistently taught the values and behaviors of respect, hard work, self-discipline, leadership, acceptance and quest for personal excellence. Bernie established a solid philosophy that was built on positive support and encouragement. Those goals still hold strong as our current band staff continues to educate from these established ideals.
His focus was to create quality in every area of our band program, fostered by the belief that a strong concert program is the key to all other successes. In 1983, he transformed the existing marching band program, the Cardinal Guard, to the Sound of Sun Prairie. Much of what the Sound of Sun Prairie is today is thanks to the leadership and innovations of Mr. Powers. In 2002, Bernie pushed to start our Foundation program in order to support kids into future years.
Stemming from Bernie's vision 16 years ago, today the foundation annually donates $1,500 per year to support the musical endeavors of Sun Prairie students, and awards over $3,000 annually in scholarships. These achievements are credited to our alumni and supporters who donate to our Foundation.
He had a fulfilling career as an accomplished educator, dynamic band director, and inspiring mentor to hundreds of students. Bernie Powers consistently taught the values and behaviors of respect, hard work, self-discipline, leadership, acceptance and quest for personal excellence. Bernie established a solid philosophy that was built on positive support and encouragement. Those goals still hold strong as our current band staff continues to educate from these established ideals.
His focus was to create quality in every area of our band program, fostered by the belief that a strong concert program is the key to all other successes. In 1983, he transformed the existing marching band program, the Cardinal Guard, to the Sound of Sun Prairie. Much of what the Sound of Sun Prairie is today is thanks to the leadership and innovations of Mr. Powers. In 2002, Bernie pushed to start our Foundation program in order to support kids into future years.
Stemming from Bernie's vision 16 years ago, today the foundation annually donates $1,500 per year to support the musical endeavors of Sun Prairie students, and awards over $3,000 annually in scholarships. These achievements are credited to our alumni and supporters who donate to our Foundation.
Principal Endowment - to support, sustain, and grow our foundation
This fund will create a $250,000 endowment to support, sustain, and grow our foundation. The endowment will provide long-term funding and stability for the programs our foundation supports, so students and teachers can take full advantage of a long-term investment. In addition, in an uncertain funding environment, the endowment would provide for the Sun Prairie Band Program if the need arises.
Music Scholarships - BPBF awarded $3,200 in scholarships in 2018
BPBF will provide one or more students each year with a scholarship to support their ongoing education.
The student or students who receive one of these scholarships will be selected by committee and will exhibit the following characteristics:
~An exemplary commitment to the music program
~Good scholarship in other areas of learning
~Intent to carry forward the lessons they learned in music education (not necessarily through a career in music or music education)
Ken Paris Music Scholarship: $500
For a SPHS graduating high school senior who has participated in the Sun Prairie Band program and plans to attend a four year university, technical/vocational school or short career training course.
Marcia Berman SOSP/Percussion Scholarship: $200
For students in grades 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12 to participate in The Sound of Sun Prairie or to assist with percussion lessons or summer camp.
Jeff Bogosh Summer Jazz Camp Scholarship: $500
For a student in grades 8, 9, 10, or 11 to attend a summer jazz camp and then share skills learned by participating in the Jazz program after camp.
Jock Bogle Music Education Scholarship: $300
For a graduating high school senior who intends to study music education.
BPBF H.E.A.R Scholarship: $200 Middle School/$300 High School
Awarded to one or more band student(s) in grades 7, 8, 9, 10, or 11. The BPBF H.E.A.R. (Helping support Equitable Access and Representation) Scholarship promotes equitable access and representation to music education and enrichment activities for groups including but not limited to Black/African American, Latinx, Native North American, Asian/Pacific Islander, and LGBTQIA+ students.
~An exemplary commitment to the music program
~Good scholarship in other areas of learning
~Intent to carry forward the lessons they learned in music education (not necessarily through a career in music or music education)
Ken Paris Music Scholarship: $500
For a SPHS graduating high school senior who has participated in the Sun Prairie Band program and plans to attend a four year university, technical/vocational school or short career training course.
Marcia Berman SOSP/Percussion Scholarship: $200
For students in grades 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12 to participate in The Sound of Sun Prairie or to assist with percussion lessons or summer camp.
Jeff Bogosh Summer Jazz Camp Scholarship: $500
For a student in grades 8, 9, 10, or 11 to attend a summer jazz camp and then share skills learned by participating in the Jazz program after camp.
Jock Bogle Music Education Scholarship: $300
For a graduating high school senior who intends to study music education.
BPBF H.E.A.R Scholarship: $200 Middle School/$300 High School
Awarded to one or more band student(s) in grades 7, 8, 9, 10, or 11. The BPBF H.E.A.R. (Helping support Equitable Access and Representation) Scholarship promotes equitable access and representation to music education and enrichment activities for groups including but not limited to Black/African American, Latinx, Native North American, Asian/Pacific Islander, and LGBTQIA+ students.
Music Mentors - BPBF is committed to providing $1500 annually for band student mentoring
“Music Mentors” will provide the fundamentals of music instruction to all of the students in our band program, at the discretion of the band directors. This offers an additional layer of intensive music education for students whom band directors feel could benefitt the most. Some examples of support the “Music Mentors” program could afford are:
~Large group “master classes” for groups of students with a specific musical need not being addressed in the classroom
~Specialized music training for students with an interest in a particular area of music
~Private or group lessons for students with the ability but not the financial resources to obtain lessons outside of the program
~Learn more at Sun Prairie Lesson Academy
~Large group “master classes” for groups of students with a specific musical need not being addressed in the classroom
~Specialized music training for students with an interest in a particular area of music
~Private or group lessons for students with the ability but not the financial resources to obtain lessons outside of the program
~Learn more at Sun Prairie Lesson Academy
Music Advocacy - Over the last 15 years, BPBF has granted nearly $28,000 in requests from the Band Program
In order to foster greater support for music education in the broader community, the Music Advocacy program will create a network of advocates to promote, support, educate, and inform the public on the value of music education. This network will engage supporters to tell their stories of the positive impact the Sun Prairie Band Program has had on their life, and organize advocates to get involved when music programs are questioned or endangered.
Examples of band department requests that BPBF has been able to support...
- Band Truck Campaign
- Instruments for student use
- CD/DVD duplicator
- Supplies for CD/DVD duplicator
- Portable recorders for rehearsals
- Laptop for presentations, SOSP, Duplicator, Smartmusic, Recruitment
- Steinway D Grand Piano
Congratulations to Mr. Steve Sveum!Mr. Steve Sveum, our beloved, retired Sun Prairie Area School District band director of 35 years, was honored jointly by the Wisconsin Music Educators Association (WMEA) and the Wisconsin School Music Association (WSMA) with the 2020 Wisconsin Award for Excellence in Teaching!
This well-deserved award was presented to Steve as part of the 2020 Wisconsin State Virtual Music Conference on October 30th, 2020. Congratulations, Steve! The Bernie Powers Band Foundation couldn't be more proud of you and your accomplishment! |
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Memories - If you have a photo or memory to share online - drop us a line!
BPBF Board of Directors 2022-2023
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Officers
Ken Paris, President president@bpbf.org Stephen DeWitt, Vice President vicepresident@bpbf.org Ann Sederquist, Secretary secretary@bpbf.org Matt Silbernagel, Treasurer treasurer@bpbf.org |
Board Members
Stephen DeWitt Scott Dresen Michael Engleson Matt McVeigh (ex-officio) Joe Mesner (ex-officio) Donna Meyer Ken Paris Bernie Powers Matt Silbernagel Shana Schulz Ann Sederquist Billie Streich |
