At a late afternoon ensemble rehearsal earlier this spring, color guard captain Kayla McCaney was presented with the 2015 Doris Butler Memorial Scholarship by long time volunteer, Terri Ives. This award is given to a veteran member who displays good work ethic and dedication to the corps. Applicants submit an essay detailing their commitment to the corps and fundraising efforts, which then undergo an extensive review by the family of the late Doris Butler.

During her lifetime, Doris was heavily involved in drum corps and drill teams around the Pennsylvania area including the Norwood Drill Team. Her passion was contagious which created generations of marching Butler’s including Surf’s own Terri Ives, who has dedicated ten years to serving the corps, and her daughter Amy Cylinder, a 2005-2007 color guard member. Because of Doris’s passion and extensive involvement in the activity, the Butler family sponsors a scholarship each year for a dedicated Surf member in her memory.

This will be Kayla’s forth summer with the Jersey Surf Color Guard and second as a captain. Kayla keeps herself busy during the year with WGI and pursuing a BFA in Drawing and Painting at Temple University but she always comes home to Surf. She said, “Winning the scholarship was an amazing experience.” Despite consistent fundraising and service projects for the corps, she risked not being able to march with her family again. She thanks the Butler family for giving her another summer in her home away from home.

Click here to learn more about Doris Butler and the memorial scholarship.