Carlita Pederson Music Education Fund

Specific Need

1,000.00 Annual 

20,000.00 Lifetime 

Mission

To support students pursuing careers in music education by providing a $1,000.00 scholarship to at least one student per year. 

Profile

Carlita Pederson was a 1984 graduate of Horton High School. She attended Highland Community College after graduation and then completed her music education degree from Kansas State University and her masters degree from Kansas State University in administration. 

She was a lifetime music educator in both elementary and middle level schools and also worked with numerous student teachers and instructed music education students at Kansas State University.  Carlita received numerous awards for her outstanding dedication to the profession, including being selected as a Regional KMEA (Kansas Music Education Association) Educator and was inducted into the KMEA Hall of Fame in 2024. 

Carlita was a Regional Choral Director for voice students, taught private voice lessons, and mentored more than 50 voice and band students. 

Shortly after she retired from teaching she lost her life to cancer on Sept. 19, 2023. She was a lifelong teacher sharing her love of music and learning with all her colleagues and students whose lives she impacted. 

The family’s hope is that we can help keep her passion for life, music and learning by helping others pursue a career committed to music education.