West Virginia University music alumna Lydia E. Weisser and her husband, Roland J. “Bud” Weisser, an alumnus of the School of Medicine, have established an endowment in the WVU School of Music to fund the James Miltenberger Piano Scholarship, honoring Professor of Piano James Miltenberger, who is celebrating his 50th year on the WVU music faculty during 2011-12.

The first scholarship will be presented for the 2012-13 academic year to an undergraduate or graduate student studying piano in the College of Creative Arts.

“Doc Miltenberger possesses that rare combination of incredible talent, intuition, dedication, humility, passion for teaching, and a love of music that separates him from all other teachers,” Lydia Weisser said. “His inspiration and encouragement shaped my self-discipline at the keyboard which, in turn, enabled me to persist through medical school. He has been my mentor for many years, and I am proud to also call him a great friend.”

Dr. Lydia Weisser received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music from WVU. She is an honor graduate of the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her psychiatric residency at the University of Alabama in Birmingham where she was chief resident. Weisser is a Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and also received her MBA from Troy State University. She, her husband, and son, Alex, currently reside in Whitfield, Miss., where Weisser serves as clinical director for Mississippi State Hospital and medical director for the Mississippi Department of Mental Health.

Dr. Roland J. Weisser, Jr., (Col., retired) is a graduate of the WVU School of Medicine. He is a Diplomate of the American Academy of Family Practice and was previously an associate professor in the WVU Department of Family Medicine until 1984 when he rejoined the U. S. Army. He is retired from the Army Medical Corps.

“The college is much appreciative of the generosity of Drs. Lydia and Bud Weisser,” said Dean Paul Kreider. “Their gift is a tribute to Dr. Jim Miltenberger’s 50 years of dedicated and superb teaching. He has no doubt touched the lives of many students like Dr. Weisser.”

“I am honored to have a scholarship endowment in my name,” Miltenberger said. “It will be a pleasure to help an undergraduate or graduate pianist beginning this coming year. I want to thank Lydia and Bud Weisser for their generosity.”

The gift was made through the WVU Foundation, the private non-profit corporation that generates and provides support for WVU.

-WVU-

CONTACT: Charlene Lattea, College of Creative Arts
304-293-4359, Charlene.Lattea@mail.wvu.edu

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