2010 Scholarship Awards

By Linda Arnest – Paul's sister

The family of Paul Delph has been awarding the Paul Delph Memorial Scholarship to a Norwood High student for the past thirteen years.  It began in 1997, one year after Paul passed away due to complications of the AIDS virus.  Paul graduated from Norwood in 1975 and later from the University of Cincinnati, College Conservatory of Music.  He then went on to a successful eighteen-year career in Los Angeles where he performed, recorded and wrote music for artists including The Pointer Sisters, Toni Basil, The Moody Blues, Bernie Taupin…among others. (See the Catalog page for more info.)

When Paul walked the halls of Norwood High he knew he was gay.  He knew this from a very young age, but he didn't talk to anyone about it because in the 1970s very few people talked about it or understood it.  Fortunately, our world has matured in the last thirty-five years and thanks to programs like Will and Grace, movies like Philadelphia and people like Ellen Degeneras, we are a more informed public and gay people can come out with less fear of reprisal.  And yet, coming out is still a brave and risky thing to do.

In the past we have asked the Foundation, when possible, to choose a student recipient for the Paul Delph scholarship who was pursuing a college degree in music or the arts.  That's what we have done again this year.  We want future Norwood High grads to know that next year we look forward to presenting this award to an openly gay student. 

This year it is my pleasure and privilege to present two Paul Delph scholarship awards.  The first award goes to Jacob Hooks.  Jacob is a four-year member of the Silhouettes and has been a member of the Academic Team for three years.  He held the lead in this year's spring play, Footloose.  Jacob will attend Case Western Reserve University majoring in Biology and Environmental Sciences.

The second award goes to Kristen Jackson.  Kristen is a member of the Key Club, marching band, jazz band, concert band, and the Anthony Munoz Foundation.  She has also served as stage crew manager and section leader of the band.  Kristen will attend Northern Kentucky University majoring in Nursing.

Please visit the Contact page or see the article below for info on donations to the sholarship fund.