News

EHHS graduate creates $25K singing scholarship at BC

By Brevard College News Release, Published: August 27, 2015

BREVARD – For recent Brevard College graduate Blake Ellege, giving back to his alma mater isn’t something he wants to wait for.
Ellege, a graduate of East Henderson High School and 2014 graduate of Brevard, announced last week the creation of the Blake Ellege Endowed Vocal Scholarship, which will be awarded to a BC student majoring in vocal performance.

“I have worked with many people in the creation of endowed scholarships, but I have never worked with someone who just graduated and, in spite of having financial hardships that accompany being a newly minted college graduate, is so passionate to endow a scholarship to immediately give back,” said Susan Cothern, BC’s vice president for philanthropic development.

The scholarship will be established at the $25,000 level and will be fully funded by Aug. 21, 2020. Ellege, an accomplished singer and performer, plans to fund the scholarship by donating 20 percent of the sales from the five albums he plans to release this year.
“Blake is an extremely talented young man who has always given extra effort, time and talent to the College,” said BC President David Joyce. “I’m not surprised that he would look for a way to pay it forward as an alumnus.”

At the age of 2, Ellege began singing and performing and soon hit the road with his parents and the Southern Gospel trio, Chosen. By age 6, he was signed to a gospel music record label and released his debut album. Due to his vocal prowess, Ellege was given the honor to headline at B.B. King’s Blues Club in Memphis for five years.

After being home-schooled and performing full time, Ellege decided at age 17 he wanted to “have the real high-school experience and walk across a stage at graduation.” He graduated from East Henderson High School, and because of his long ties to Brevard College, knew this was where he wanted to attend college.

Ellege has worked for television and radio for over 15 years, performing for programming on radio and television stations in France, Belgium, Russia and Mexico featuring his talents in character work as well as singing a variety of different genres of music. He continued to travel and perform full time while also being a full-time student at the college.

He graduated from Brevard College in 2014 with a bachelor of arts in music with an emphasis in classical vocal music performance. At Brevard, he was honored as “Most Outstanding Music Performer” and received a nomination from the Kennedy Center for “Best Sound Design in a Collegiate Theater Production.” Blake continues to travel full time, performing for churches, opera companies, symphony orchestras and giving private concerts all over the Southeast.