A metro Atlanta high school band student is this year's recipient of a major scholarship - and her bandmates will soon celebrate in one of the biggest parades in the U.S.
Abby Matthews and the Woodland High School Wildcat Marching Band out of Cartersville, Georgia were named the recipients of the 2018 Bob Hope Band Scholarship.
"It's really exciting," she said. "It's very - just a wonderful experience to have."
Matthews and the local marching band were chosen based on the merit of an essay competition. The topic was Bob Hope and the importance of giving back.
"I wrote an essay entitled "Hope Springs Afire" based around our marching band show that was called "Hope Springs Eternal" and it kind of played on Bob Hope's last name and his belief that we should be servant leaders," Matthews said. "And so I talked about my entire high school career as band captain and just try to help out with my band and outside."
The Bob & Dolores Hope Foundation has presented the scholarship since 2003. Through a written essay, each school participating in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade can nominate one musician, auxiliary team member or drum major from their program that "reflects the value and attributes that Bob Hope represented to millions of Americans, both at home and overseas."
Matthews was the student they chose for that honor.
“On behalf of the Bob & Dolores Hope Foundation, and particularly on behalf of my dad, Bob Hope, I want to congratulate Abby Matthews on her most creative essay,” said Linda Hope. “I know that my parents would be very proud that such an accomplished and caring young woman was this year’s scholarship recipient.”
Matthews' own band director also had kind words for his student and said the scholarship would be a blessing to both her and the band as a whole.
“We are so incredibly proud of Abby Matthews and her accomplishments as a musician and leader in our school and community. Abby works tirelessly and selflessly to achieve her goals. She has inspired her peers and continually inspires me to be the best director I can be," Eric Willoughby said.
He said that scholarship funds given to the school would go toward improving and repairing instruments in their inventory.
Now, Matthews and her fellow bandmates will make their debut in the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade. It's the first time in the parade's 92-year history that Cartersville has been represented.
"It's absolutely crazy to think about," she said. "Just think about marching down the street with other people - millions of people watching on T.V. and real life is just absolutely mind-boggling."
The parade will air at 9 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 22) on NBC.