Carlis M Anderson Scholarship

The Carlis M. Anderson Scholarship is for full-time sophomore, junior, or senior students majoring in the Music Education program.

Criteria

1 .Each recipient must be an undergraduate student enrolled for a minimum of 12 credit hours at Winona State University.
2. Each recipient may be classified as a sophomore, junior or senior and be in good standing at Winona State University with a minimum grade point average (g. p.a.) of 3.0.
3. Each recipient must be a declared major in Winona State University’s music education program.
4. Each recipient must be a member of Student Chapter 252 WSU Music Education National Conference (MENC) .
5. Each recipient must have demonstrated a sense of dedication, moral responsibility and communication skills .

Biography/Motivation

Carlis M. Anderson retired from Winona State University as Professor Emeritus in May 1991. She had been a member of the faculty since 1963, serving first at the Phelps Lab School and then in the music department.

Born January 8, 1929, during the Depression in Luverne, Minnesota, the family eventually lost their farm. Because of their strong faith and love for each other, the family of five survived and the children benefited from the strong examples of good parenting, which is a subject she frequently speaks on. “I am so interested in parenting, especially good parenting skills. Through 40 years of being in education, you can make some real deductions about parenting. I used to tell my students, ‘Some of these parents don’t deserve their children. Are you going to be good parents?’ We need parents today that care.”

Carlis received her elementary and secondary education in Luverne before graduating from the University of South Dakota with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts in 1951. She then earned a masters degree in music education in 1958 from the University of Colorado, Boulder.

She has done post graduate work at Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois; University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; University of Wisconsin – Madison; University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee and spent 10 days in Dalian, China, teaching music to students enrolled in the Liaoning Normal University.

She taught for 40 years. Her teaching experience included Scotland, South Dakota (1951-52), Sioux Falls Public Schools, South Dakota (1952-1952), Douglas, Arizona (1954-1959), U.S. Air Force Schools in Chateauroux, France and Wiesbaden, Germany (1959-61), Ely Public Schools and Community College, Minnesota (1961-63) and Winona State University (1963-91).

Her involvement in professional activities included Minnesota Music Educators Board (4 years), Minnesota Elementary Music Educators Board and Regional Chairman (many years) in which she was a charter member, and American Association of University Women. She was also advisor for the WSU Student Chapter of Music Education National Conference.

Carlis’ interest in music has always been strong. She states, “Music has always held a special place in my being. It’s been my life just as education has been. We never stop learning and I believe we must keep active mentally and physically. I am a curious person, a ‘doer’ with an attitude and sharing time and talents with others.”

She was also a member of the steering committee for the learning club, with Winona chapter of the Institute for Learning in Retirement and is still involved in its activities. Carlis is also active in the Winona Area Hospice Service, AAUW, Winona State Choral Union and the Music Education National Conference. She is the song leader/piano accompanist for Community Memorial Hospital’s C and R Unit, and WAHS events.

The former choir director has played the organ in many churches and is always happy to share her talents as an organist for the Order of the Eastern Star and at Grace Presbyterian Church. She is a past member of the Winona Symphony Orchestra in which she played the French horn and served as co-chairperson for the SOS (Save Our Symphony). She was also a past officer of the Minnesota Elementary Music Educators Association.

Her Hobbies include gardening, riding her bike, walking, volunteer work and her special friend, her dog, snow.

“Principles and ideals are most important to me as I believe in God, my country and my family. I enjoy flying the American flag every day… if you can keep doing things with your hands and keep you mind alert, this then, is good!”