Atherton Award Recipient
2015

Trent Spatenka
Sousaphone

“My time in the Blugold Marching Band defined my time at UW-Eau Claire. I didn’t know the band existed until after the season started but I found myself on the field after camp after being asked to join by Dr. Dickerson. Immediately I felt at home and I knew this was something I wanted to do for the rest of my time in school. Making the transition to sousaphone my sophomore year offered me the experiences of a lifetime not only in terms of making friends for life and meeting my future wife, but the ability to travel internationally and to spread the joy of music across the globe with those people. There’s also something freeing about this ensemble, and that helped mold me into the person I am today. I am eternally grateful to the BMB and to UWEC for allowing me the opportunities it gave me then, now, and for the future.”