Sue Kruse Memorial Endowed Scholarship

Sue Kruse is remembered as the "Ultimate Band Mom." Spending years volunteering time and donating funds to the Valley Band program, she made a lasting impact on countless musicians, volunteers, and staff. Sue passed away in 2006 and left funds to establish a scholarship providing financial support for students to continue their education after graduation.

The Valley Band Boosters wants to continue Sue Kruse's legacy in perpetuity, and this campaign establishes an endowed scholarship in her memory. Your donation will have a lasting impact on future Valley High School student musicians while honoring the legacy of Sue Kruse for future generations.

We reached out to family, friends, and alumni to provide some memories about Sue:

One year the band competed in the Worlds of Fun competition.  The kids got to spend most of the day in the park.  One of the kids had won a huge stuffed animal but didn't want to carry it. So Sue took it and she carried it around all day.

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One year the band was getting ready to perform at a competition in Cedar Rapids. As they lined up the heavens opened up and the rain came down in buckets.  The kids ran for the buses but they were completely soaked.  When they got back to the band hall they just threw all the wet uniforms on the floor.  EARLY the next morning Sue was calling the band moms to get up to the school and start separating jacket and pants so they could dry. Hairdryers were used to dry all the wet plumes. That was Sue...there was something that needed to be done and she got the "troops" to do it.

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She funded several student band fees and unknown to most she helped pay portions of the money some students needed to travel to the Rose Parade. 

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When a new kid came into the Marchmasters the FIRST thing she did was teach them how to hang their pants on the hangers CORRECTLY.  And she made sure they did!  I'm sure there are past Marchmasters who still hang their pants correctly because of her.

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When we were going to the Rose Parade Sue bought yards of fabric that was black with white paw prints and she made "lounge type" pants for all the chaperones(she got everyone's measurements) to wear the day of the parade.  There were about 24 of us decked out!