Makayla Trevor Awarded Sarah E. Menez Memorial Scholarship
On May 21,2025, at the Beechwood High School Senior Honors program, the Beechwood Band Boosters announced that Makayla Trevor was the 2025 Sarah E. Menez Memorial Scholarship recipient.
Makayla was a member of the Beechwood Marching Tigers from 2019 until 2025, where she received a KMEA State Championship (2019, 2021, 2023) and was a BOA National Semifinalist (2019, 2022, 2023). She was a member of the Beechwood Marching Tigers when they received the Sudler Shield Award (2022) by the John Philip Sousa Foundation, an award to premier high school marching bands internationally ranked at a world-class level of excellence. She did Jazz ensemble for one year (2025). She also was the Marching Band Front Ensemble and Indoor Percussion’s Assistant Section Leader (2023-2024), and Section Leader (2024-2025).
Outside of instrumental music, she was Sound Assistant for the Beechwood musical (2022-2024).
She has received a scholarship to Eastern Kentucky University.
Her service activities included, among others, serving as a volunteer at La Soupe and manager of the Beechwood Brew.
As one teacher wrote, “Makayla has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to both her academics and her involvement in the marching band. Balancing the rigors of AP coursework with the demanding schedule of a dedicated musician is no small feat; however, Makayla has consistently managed to excel in both areas.”
Upon receiving the award, Makayla remarked, “I am honored that the scholarship committee recognized me for this award and, as importantly, am proud to be among those students that this scholarship has supported over the years.”
On behalf of the Beechwood Band Boosters, President Andy Cullison added, “We are pleased to have this scholarship to promote purposes and qualities of character, musicianship, and academic achievement in our students. It is always a challenge, however, to select one student from so many fine candidates.”
In the photo of the 2025 scholarship presentation, which appears in the upper right-hand corner of this article, the individuals are from left to right: Beechwood Director of Bands Austin Bralley, award recipient Makayla Trevor, President of the Beechwood Band Boosters Andy Cullison, and Joe Menez.
The Sarah E. Menez Memorial Scholarship was established in 2014 by the Beechwood Band Boosters in association with Joseph Menez to honor the memory of his late wife Sarah Menez. One scholarship is awarded annually for tuition assistance to a senior attending Beechwood High School who has best represented the personal qualities of Sarah Menez, musicianship, academic promise and who has been accepted at an accredited college or university.
To learn more about the scholarship, visit www.beechwoodbands.org or contact Beechwood Bands Director Austin Bralley at (859) 331-1220. Contributions to the Sarah E. Menez Memorial Scholarship are welcome and can be donated to the Beechwood Band Boosters as a gift designated for the Sarah E. Menez Memorial Scholarship. The Band Boosters mailing address is 54 Beechwood Road, Ft. Mitchell, KY 41017.
The Beechwood Band Boosters is a non-profit IRC 501(c)(3) organization that was established to assist Beechwood’s Bands and directors with their programs and projects; to lend financial assistance to the bands for co-curricular and extracurricular activities; and to promote a culture of excellence and exquisite musicianship.
Beechwood Independent School District provides a co-educational public education for 1,200 students in grades K through 12. Its elementary and high schools are integrated into a single campus in Ft. Mitchell, KY. The School District is known for high academic achievement and excellence in extracurricular activities. The high school is nationally ranked among America’s best public high schools by Newsweek and U.S. New and World Report. Both the high school and elementary school are recognized as a National Blue-Ribbon School of Excellence by the U.S. Department of Education. More information is available at www.beechwood.kyschools.us.
