William K. Schwartz Memorial Award

The Swingin’ BopCats Big Band are proud to announce and congratulate the 2026 William K. Schwartz Memorial Award Scholarship Winner:

CONGRATS: Abigail Solinger!

  • Beaver Senior flute & piccolo player and member of the Concert Choir
  • Has been our principal chair flute player for several years 
  • Drum Major of the Marching Band
  • One of the lead roles in the school musical for several years
  • President of Tri-M Music Honor Society
  • Accomplished piano player; she has accompanied several of our school groups at concerts and is involved in music-making at her church.
  • Upbeat, charismatic, is a great motivator and mentor for her younger peers
  • Hopes to study Biotechnology at University of Pittsburgh or Kent State University and continue involvement in music. 

The Swingin’ BopCats are proud to have Abigail as a recipient of the William K. Schwartz Memorial Award.

Abigail Solinger – 2026 William K. Schwartz Memorial Award Winner

About the Award
The William K. Schwartz Memorial Award is awarded to a graduating senior who is a member of a Beaver Area Varsity Band. As a member of the Beaver High School music faculty, Mr. Schwartz was a founder and director of the Swingin’ BopCats Big Band.

We wish all of our current and past recipients ALL the best with your music studies and careers. See BELOW for a list of past recipients.

Willliam K Schwartz - A Beaver County Music Legend

Previous Scholarship Winners

  • 1973 – Mel Robinson
  • 1974 – Tonya Chermak
  • 1975 – John Abraham
  • 1976 – Rick Stevenson & Marty McCleary
  • 1977 – David Jones
  • 1978 – Norman MacKnight
  • 1979 – Brian Nestor
  • 1980 – Susan Reisinger
  • 1981 – Kerry Bundy
  • 1982 – Karen Vogel
  • 1983 – Laura G. Ruth
  • 1984 – Joy Swartzlander
  • 1985 – Kathy Petula
  • 1986 – Douglas Geiger
  • 1987 – Scott Smith
  • 1988 – Tom Chaimberlain
  • 1989 – Patrick Oshea
  • 1990 – Martin Schulte
  • 1991 – Daniel McNutt
  • 1992 – Erin Romigh
  • 1993 – Rachel Fabanich
  • 1994 – Ryan Landefeld
  • 1995 – Wendy McCullough
  • 1996 – John Fink
  • 1997 – Mike Turbovich
  • 1998 – Jane Rackley
  • 1999 – Kate Humphries
  • 2000 – Adam Nolder
  • 2001 – Bob Schwartz
  • 2002 – Lauren Wolber
  • 2003 – Kendra Osterhout
  • 2004 – Brian Schwartz
  • 2005 – Melanie Warne
  • 2006 – Sarah Williams
  • 2007 – Matt Clear
  • 2008 – Tim Daugherty
  • 2009 – Braden Pontoli & Stephanie Presutti
  • 2010 – Harrison Wickman
  • 2011 – Ian Graham & Matthew Malloy
  • 2012 – Emily Kondracki
  • 2013 – Ian Johnson
  • 2014 – Nathaniel Frank
  • 2015 – Ryan Maloney
  • 2016 – Sabrina Knapp
  • 2017 – Kathryn Sewall & Kelsey Schaller
  • 2018 – Jocelyn Schmersal
  • 2019 – Lindsay Malloy & Gretchen Berendt
  • 2020 – Evan Linkimer & Sarah Mateer
  • 2021 – Emma Sewall
  • 2022 – Rebecca Mizer
  • 2023 – Audrey Maize
  • 2024 – Cailin Downer
  • 2025 – Joshua Dahma & Julian Nole

The Swingin' BopCats are proud to present the Annual William K Schwartz Memorial Award Winners