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Strasburg Today
By the People, for the People
Four CLC Music Students Earn Bachelor's Degree Scholarships
Flutist, saxophonists, and guitarist from Central Lakes College awarded $20,000 in competitive funding
Apr. 11, 2026 at 6:24pm
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The musical talents of four Central Lakes College students are celebrated through a vibrant, pop art-inspired illustration.Strasburg TodayFour students from the Music Associate of Fine Arts program at Central Lakes College have been awarded approximately $20,000 in scholarships to pursue bachelor's degrees in music. The scholarship recipients include Anaka Schroeder, a flutist from Emily; Eric Hebert, a saxophonist from Brainerd; Alex Koopman, a saxophonist from Blaine, Minnesota; and Eric Finch, a guitarist from Strasburg, Colorado.
Why it matters
Earning scholarships through competitive auditions is a significant achievement that highlights the talent and academic preparation of these students, as well as the effectiveness of Central Lakes College's Music AFA program in preparing students to succeed at the bachelor's degree level.
The details
According to reporting from the Brainerd Dispatch, the financial awards are divided between academic merit-based scholarships and music-specific scholarships. To secure the music-specific funding, each student was required to prepare and perform an audition at their respective target institutions. The graduating students will transfer to the University of Minnesota-Duluth, University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, and Bemidji State University to complete their degrees.
- The scholarships were awarded in April 2026.
The players
Anaka Schroeder
A flutist from Emily who received a scholarship.
Eric Hebert
A saxophonist from Brainerd who received a scholarship.
Alex Koopman
A saxophonist from Blaine, Minnesota who received a scholarship.
Eric Finch
A guitarist from Strasburg, Colorado who received a scholarship.
Kyle Brown
A music instructor at Central Lakes College who commented on the significance of the scholarships.
What they’re saying
“Earning scholarships through competitive auditions is no small feat, and it highlights not only their talent and work ethic, but also how well our Music AFA program prepares students to succeed at top bachelor's‑level.”
— Kyle Brown, Music instructor, Central Lakes College
The takeaway
The scholarships earned by these four Central Lakes College music students demonstrate the strength of the institution's Music AFA program in cultivating talented and academically prepared musicians who are poised to excel at the bachelor's degree level.
