Emma Webb’s mind went blank after the announcement. The accomplished senior stood there flabbergasted, and couldn’t begin to process that she had just won the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) Executive Board Scholarship worth $12,500.

“[Winning the scholarship] didn’t feel real,” Webb said.

In the fall she received a brochure from the TMEA, an organization that gives scholarships to aspiring musicians or people planning to major in music, about all-state. In the back of the booklet, there was a list of potential scholarships that students who made all-state could apply for. Webb’s mom encouraged her to go ahead and apply for the Executive Board Scholarship, so she got together her resume, got recommendation letters from her directors, and wrote a powerful essay on her connection with music and what inspired her to become a music major. Once October rolled around, Webb sent her application in and hoped for the best, but wasn’t expecting too much.

“There’s no way, there are probably a lot of people applying for [the scholarship],” Webb said, “how could I possibly get it.”  

Her doubts made her even more surprised when she was eventually awarded the scholarship. Webb is very excited about this for giving her more opportunities to be able to go to private schools like Baylor and Texas Christian University, her top two choices for college.  

“I learned so much from band,” Webb said. “I want to learn more about band.”

Music has played an important role in Webb’s life and it all started in middle school when she first joined the Argyle band.

“[Music] really spoke to me and I connected with it and I was like I can’t imagine myself doing anything else,” Webb said.

Webb plans to major in music education, but she didn’t always know that’s what she wanted to do, but one moment sparked that intuition.

“It took me awhile to realize what I wanted to do,” Webb said. “At our final competition, Mrs. Johnson looked at me and just smiled at me, and I was just like this is such a cool experience. I was beaming afterwards. I want to have that effect on kids too. Same effect that she has on me I want to spread that to other people. And do whatever I can for future generations.”

Although that moment spoke to Webb, there are other things that have inspired her.

“I’m really inspired by my band directors and the leaders of the band,” Webb said.

Johnson wrote one of Webb’s recommendation letters and knows she has a bright future ahead of her.

“I think she’s going to be very successful in whatever she tries to do,” Johnson said.

Webb is very grateful for the Executive Board Scholarship is has already set high goals for herself in life and hopes to reach them.

“That 12,500 dollars is just one step closer to achieving my dream,” Webb said.