2nd Annual Scholarship Awarded to Erika Nininger

“I completely believe in the positive effects of music, and really everything that The Justin Veatch Fund stands for.”

Yorktown Heights, NY, June 10th, 2010 — The family of Justin Veatch, who tragically died in his sleep as a result of an accidental drug overdose at age 17 in 2008, awarded its second annual music scholarship in their son’s name at Senior Awards Night at Yorktown High School Wednesday to graduating Yorktown senior Erika Nininger. A runner up award was also presented to Yorktown senior Beatrice Naumann.

The music scholarship is part of The Justin Veatch Fund’s mission to foster programs for young, emerging musical artists. Justin was an exceptionally talented singer, songwriter and musician whose work was released on the compilation album “Permagrin: The Music of Justin Veatch by The Ivoryton Piano Factory and Friends” in 2009 on Polyvinyl Records.

Nininger is a pianist, guitarist, vocalist and songwriter who has donated her talents to community service in programs in her school and raising money for her church, Relay for Life and Hanover Farm. She will be attending Ohio Wesleyan University in the fall.

In receiving the award Nininger said “This award means so much to me. I completely believe in the positive effects of music, and really everything that The Justin Veatch Fund stands for. It’s an honor that I will keep with me where ever I go.”

Naumann has been a violinist in the Area All State Orchestra and the Greater Westchester Youth Orchestra and had the honor in May to perform in Carnegie Hall.