The Goo Goo Dolls will perform a concert in December at the House of Blues Cleveland and donate all proceeds to a scholarship at Ball State University in honor of graduate Rebecca Reichert, who died in October.
Reichert was diagnosed with tongue cancer in Fall 2004, Kimberly Inks, life-long friend and associate professor of music, said. For two years the severity of Reichert's cancer fluctuated, Inks said. On Sept. 1, Reichert said treatment options had been exhausted.
When Reichert's parents and Ball State faculty members realized she would not win her battle with cancer, they began planning an honorary scholarship.
Reichert spent her last few weeks at home writing the criteria for the scholarship. Four weeks before she died, the scholarship criteria were established, Inks said.
"A lot of the criteria is really based on the student Becca was," Janet Reichert, Rebecca's mother, said. "[Becca] wanted the student to be established as a hard worker and motivated, a person that wanted to teach, not a performer with a teaching back-up plan."
A member of University Singers and Ball State's chapters of Music Educators National Conference and the American Choral Director's Association, Reichert lived by an admirable work ethic, Inks said. Reichert's work ethic is evident because she was the only student in May 2005 from the music education department to graduate summa cum laude, Inks said. "She had this work ethic that I think all of the faculty recognized," Inks said. "She was always working. She was very influential among her peers as far as she always had a positive attitude, she had a great personality, she was really enthusiastic ... the list goes on."
After hearing about Reichert's death and scholarship, the Goo Goo Dolls offered to perform a benefit concert and donate all proceeds to the scholarship. The band is connected to Reichert through drummer Mike Malinin, who is dating a woman who was close friends with Reichert.
"Basically all of the money is going straight to her family," Malinin said. "The House of Blues gave us the room for very cheap."
Costs were also kept down because Cleveland is on the way to Chicago, where the band has a show on Dec. 8. Not diverting from the band's route helps keep the expenses to an absolute minimum so more money can be raised for Reichert, Malinin said. Before booking the House of Blues Cleveland, the band intended to play an acoustic concert in Mentor, Ohio, Reichert's hometown. However, Malinin said the band's manager pointed out a full blown concert in Cleveland would raise more money for the scholarship.
Efforts are also being made by the Reicherts' hometown of Mentor, Ohio, to raise money to donate to the scholarship, Janet Reichert said. A spaghetti dinner sponsored by Rebecca's high school is scheduled for Tuesday, she said. The city of Mentor has raised approximately $12,000 for the scholarship since Reichert's death in October. "Becca's dream was for this to become a full tuition scholarship," Reichert said. The recipient would ideally receive an award large enough to pay for his or her last year of tuition, she said. To assist in the growth of the scholarship, until Dec. 31 the Lilly Endowment Center will match every dollar donated by a Ball State faculty or staff member, Inks said. The goal of the scholarship fund is $25,000, she said.
To be considered for the scholarship, a student needs to be completing his or her junior year in the music education department. Preference will be given to vocal general majors. In addition, the student needs to have a 3.0 grade point average, Inks said. The first $1,000 scholarship will be awarded in May, she said.
Rebecca Reichert spoke about the struggles she had faced in her life in her online web portfolio, which was completed for her graduation.
"The surgeries and radiation and chemotherapy were definitely physically some of the hardest times I have ever gone through ... I was constantly concerned with the health of my vocal chords because I wanted to be back singing as soon as I could. It was during this time I realized how passionate I really am for music education. I feel I will be a much better teacher because of this."
Despite the hardships she faced, Reichert was optimistic about her future as a teacher. Janet Reichert believes that is the type of student Rebecca would want to receive the award: Someone who truly loves both music and teaching. The Goo Goo Dolls will perform at 8 p.m. Dec. 6 at House of Blues Cleveland on their way to Chicago. Tickets go on sale Saturday and cost between $41 and $51.
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