Fred McClure Of Orland Park Recognized For Involvement At NIU

DE KALB, IL — An Orland Park resident and Sandburg High School alum has been awarded the Forward, Together Forward Scholarship at Northern Illinois University that recognizes academic excellence, community involvement and character. Frederick McClure, an avid percussionist and double music major, is one of only five NIU students to receive the award this year.

McClure couldn’t wait until after graduation to start fulfilling his dream of working with
underprivileged youth, according to a news release from the university. So he created the “Music Education Agents” group of 10 peers to visit a low-income neighborhood in De Kalb where they performed and then gave children the chance to try their instruments.

“Fred McClure is a caring and compassionate individual who wants to make a difference in the lives of others in his community,” Mary Lynn Doherty, director of NIU’s Music Education program, said. “He is already fulfilling his mission to improve his community and the world through music.”

McClure has been musically involved for some time now, having received accolades while at Sandburg and was a member of the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra for four years.

At NIU, he has served as the percussion section leader in the NIU Philharmonic, played in the NIU Steelband and the NIU Percussion Ensemble and currently serves as president of the NIU Percussion Club. He also is a member of the John Henrick Clarke Honor Society and serves as a student advisor to the dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts, the school said.