RIO GRANDE — The University of Rio Grande/Rio Grande Community College (URG/RGCC) is offering a full tuition, four year scholarship to an incoming first-year student who will be studying music in the 2012-2013 school year, and is inviting any interested music students to audition for the award.

The Music Department will be holding scholarship auditions from 4-6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 9 and then again from 2-4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 25 as part of the scholarship competition.

If any students who are interested in auditioning are not able to attend either of those sessions, the Music Department can set up special appointments for auditions as needed.

Rio Grande is also offering two additional scholarships for music students who take part in the auditions. Two applicants will be selected for $1,000 scholarships for each of their four years in college.

This is the second year that Rio Grande has offered the full tuition Music scholarship. Freshman Aryn Gritter from the Columbus area is the first recipient of the award. The 2011 graduate of Teays Valley High School has been very active on campus and in the Music Department during her first year at Rio Grande, and will be appearing in the university’s production of “The Who’s Tommy,” in April.

Rio Grande offers a wide range of scholarships for its students, with several scholarships, such as the Music scholarship, that are targeted specifically for outstanding students in certain majors.

In November, for example, Rio Grande held a Chemistry scholarship competition for incoming students who are interested in studying chemistry. The full tuition, four year Chemistry scholarship was won by Michael MacKnight from Wahama High School, while Gallia Academy students Daniel Fraser and Andrew Lawrence each also won Chemistry scholarships for smaller amounts.

During that competition, high school students from around the region toured the campus, took a one-hour chemistry exam and visited with students, faculty and staff.

During the spring semester, Rio Grande will hold a competition for students interested in receiving the four year, full tuition Art scholarship. Through this competition, interested students will be able to submit artwork for a special exhibit on campus. Students will also be able to submit digital portfolios of their artwork for the judges to look over.

Rio Grande also offers numerous other scholarship opportunities for its students, in addition to many different grants and loans that are available.

A unique institution that is part private university and part community college, Rio Grande offers very low tuition rates and small class sizes for its outstanding academic programs. Students can enroll in associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in numerous fields.

For more information on the Music scholarship auditions, or for more information about the Music Department at Rio Grande, call Chris Kenney at 1-800-282-7201 or send him an email at ckenney@rio.edu.

For more information on the Art scholarship, call Benjy Davies at 1-800-282-7201 or send him an email at bdavies@rio.edu.