Sarah Swahlon is the 2021-22 Presser Scholar

Sarah Swahlon has been named the 2021-22 Presser Scholar at Westminster Choir College. She is entering her senior year at Westminster, where she is enrolled in the five-year music education program leading to a Bachelor of Music and a Master of Music Education.

One of the most prestigious honors at Westminster Choir College, the Presser Scholar is selected by the dean of the College from students completing their junior year. The recipient must have achieved high academic standing and have earned one-third of her credits outside of the field of music. In addition to being recognized for her achievements, Swahlon will receive a scholarship funded by the Presser Foundation.

Recognized as a Rider Scholar for her academic achievements, Swahlon has earned a 3.973 cumulative GPA, and she has been selected for the Dean’s List throughout her time at Westminster. She is a member of the Westminster Symphonic Choir and the Westminster Williamson Voices, as well as the student-led Outreach Choir, Noted A cappella ensemble and Westminster Players. Active in student government, she was elected vice president of the freshman class and secretary of the sophomore class, and she has served as a senator for the Student Government Association for the past three years. 

She has also been a new student orientation leader, vice president of the National Association for Music Education Collegiate Chapter 183 and a member of Alpha Xi Delta, which is dedicated to the personal growth of women and is one of the oldest women’s fraternal organizations in the United States. She is also a member of the Rider University marketing and enrollment committee and the advisory board for the vice president for student affairs.

Established through the estate of Theodore Presser, the Presser Foundation is one of the few foundations in the United States dedicated solely to the support of music and music education.