Sunrise Christian Academy senior Karen Blackmon is the recipient of the Mickey and Pete Armstrong Performing Arts Scholarship for 2015.

Blackmon, who plans to enter Wichita State University in the fall as a music theater major, will receive full tuition and fees for four years or until she graduates, whichever comes first.

At Sunrise Christian, Blackmon has played major roles in several productions, including “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” (Milly), “Hello, Dolly!” (Dolly Levi), “Bells are Ringing” (Sue) and “Fiddler on the Roof” (Hodel). Blackmon has been nominated for three Music Theatre of Wichita Jester Awards, winning a best leading actress award for “Hello, Dolly!” in 2014.

Blackmon has also been heavily involved in the Wichita theater community, with roles in Christian Youth Theater, Signature Exploratory Theatre and Arts and work on stage and behind the scenes with Music Theatre of Wichita. Blackmon studies voice with WSU Professor of Music Pina Mozzani.

The scholarship is named after E.W. “Pete” and Mildred “Mickey” Armstrong, who were active community leaders and generous supporters of WSU. The scholarship was established in 2006 by Mickey Armstrong in support of music theater students. After Pete Armstrongs’s death in June 2009, Mickey Armstrong continued that involvement.

Pete Armstrong graduated from the University of Wichita in 1942, cum laude, with a major in chemistry and a minor in journalism. Mickey Armstrong graduated in 1945 with a major in English language and literature and a minor in history and secretarial science.

The Armstrongs have supported many areas across the university, including the Plaza of Heroines, Woodman Alumni Center, Elliott School of Communication faculty, WSU athletics, the WSU Alumni Association and various other funds and scholarships. They also were instrumental in obtaining for WSU the Gordon Parks collection and the eighth lane at Cessna Stadium. Pete Armstrong’s advice led to the redesign of the Marcus Welcome Center, which they also financially supported. They established a deferred gift to WSU, earning them membership in the WSU Foundation Society of 1895.