Auburn — Hear ye! Hear ye!

The 1,200-seat Donald M. Gay Performing Arts Center, situated on the brand new $100 million-plus Edward Little High School campus, is the incredible and amazing final tribute from the Edward Little Class of 1951 to the man who led EL bands and choruses to rank among New England’s finest from 1944 to 1959.

The center will open when all building construction is completed for the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year.

It was back in 1997, when planning the 50th reunion for 2001, that we initially considered making our class gift of the large color portrait of Mr. Gay to be hung in the high school’s music room.

Then a second more challenging idea was presented: “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could create an annual scholarship in honor of our beloved director?”

Knowing such a plan would require a significant principal dollar amount in order to make a meaningful scholarship award possible, some of the committee members looked a little skeptical. But in the end the vote was unanimous. Now the challenge: to raise the money.

The primary criteria for the scholarship was that a graduating senior would have made  outstanding contributions to Edward Little’s arts programs (music, theatre and literature) during the student’s four-year high school career, and with the intention of being involved in some form of the arts during her or his college  years. The scholarship was to be awarded to the student’s chosen college based on a satisfactory academic standing at the beginning of the sophomore year.

Scores of class members pitched in with gifts ranging from $2,000 to $25. The addition of two significant grants made it possible for the Scholarship Committee to present a $2,000 scholarship to Bethany Herrick, the first of 21 scholarships that ultimately totaled $106,000 over a 21-year period. The final award in 2021 was for $10,000 to Jameson Treadwell.

Colleges chosen by the Don Gay scholars included The University of Maine, Southern Maine University, Ithaca College, Boston University, Boyer School of Music, Suffolk University, Swarthmore College, Syracuse University and Northeastern University.

At this point the fund trustees found it was no longer feasible to continue the annual scholarship program. The class membership understandably was shrinking, and the details required to continue seeking and judging the scholarship candidates had run its course.

While the trustees regretted the need to end the scholarship program, the best was yet to come. The decision to freeze the remaining scholarship principal amount, which fortunately preceded the sharp decline in the stock market, provided an opportunity that nobody in the EL Class of 1951 could have imagined in 1997 when the scholarship program was born. At that time, there was no idea of a new Edward Little High School some 25 years in the future.

The fund total of $400,000 was presented to the Auburn School Committee in exchange for the naming rights, creating the Donald M. Gay Performing Arts Center.

To say this was anything less than a miracle would be an understatement to the entire remaining members of the Edward Little Class of 1951. Due to the pandemic the class was unable to celebrate its 70th reunion. However, this lasting tribute to Mr. Gay, of which he would have been exceedingly proud, is a happening representing a dream  EL ’51 class members thought would never happen.

The trustees of the Donald M. Gay Scholarship Fund are proud to have a role in supporting the performing arts center and the wonderful experiences it will bring to future students and to the greater Lewiston-Auburn community.

On behalf of all Edward Little Classes from 1944-1959, during Mr. Gay’s 15-year tenure, we give our sincere thanks to the Auburn School Committee for this wonderful remembrance of Mr. Gay. And yes, that initially-suggested class gift of Mr. Gay’s color portrait will be displayed prominently in the performing arts center.

Mr. Gay, who was born in 1913 in Casco and left us in Linneus in 2011, said this in 1997: “To the EL Class of 1951, just to tell you how honored I am to have my name associated with such a worthwhile scholarship. At the age of 84, and after a 36-year teaching career, I look back at my days at Edward Little not only with fondness, but as one of, if not the best, teaching experiences of my life.

“It is my hope that as you take time to reminisce about the ‘good ole days at EL, you will want to express your gratitude for your own cherished memories by offering to support the young dreams of future graduates, some of whom may well become fine arts educators.”

Bob Gardner of Auburn is a member of Edward Little High School’s class of 1951.

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