Shannon Witkouski, a rising senior at Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pa., has been awarded the prestigious Marian Anderson Legacy Scholarship, presented by the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR).

Awarded annually to one outstanding student nationwide, this scholarship celebrates excellence in music, academics and humanitarian service. Funded through the DAR Marian Anderson Legacy Fund, the scholarship supports undergraduate or graduate students pursuing studies in music performance, composition, theory or education.

Witkouski, of Beaver, Pa., is double majoring in music education and instrumental performance with a concentration in percussion. She was recently named the 2025 Outstanding Junior Music Major by Westminster’s School of Music.

“Shannon Witkouski represents the very best of today’s young artists and leaders,” said Barbara Grant, national chair of the DAR Scholarship Committee. “In honoring Marian Anderson’s legacy, we celebrate a new generation of voices that inspire, uplift and unite.”

Maintaining a 3.979 GPA, Witkouski serves as a peer tutor on campus and is secretary of Westminster’s Phi Omega chapter of the music honory society Mu Phi Epsilon. She is also a member of the Pi Sigma Pi honor society. She also belongs to the Alpha Gamma Delta sorority, to which she has served as vice president of campus relations and membership director.

Recently awarded Westminster’s Drinko Center Summer Research Fellowship, Witkouski and Dr. Daniel Perttu, professor of music theory and composition and her faculty mentor, will examine the influence of artificial intelligence on musical creativity over the summer months.

Witkouski was selected as one of just 33 college students from across the globe to serve on the Percussive Arts Society’s University Student Committee and is slated to serve as chair in 2026. She currently chairs the social media subcommittee. 

Witkouski, who is an active member of the DAR’s Fort McIntosh Chapter, plans to pursue graduate studies in cognitive music theory, exploring the intersections of sound, learning and innovation.

“Shannon is an exceptional student with great intellect, work ethic and artistic talent,” said Perttu, who also chairs Westminster’s School of Music. “It has been a joy to work with her and watch her develop into such a thoughtful and visionary young musician. This national recognition affirms my belief that Shannon will make meaningful contributions to our field as her career develops.”

Marian Anderson was a pioneering artist and civil rights icon. She broke numerous barriers throughout her life, becoming the first African American to perform at the Metropolitan Opera captivating audiences worldwide with her voice, grace and determination. Although her historic 1939 concert at the Lincoln Memorial arose from adversity—after being denied the right to perform at DAR Constitution Hall—her legacy ultimately helped inspire lasting change. The DAR has since honored her courage and contributions, establishing the Marian Anderson Legacy Scholarship to reflect its enduring commitment to progress, unity and the elevation of young artists who embody these ideals.

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