BHS alumnus dedicates $5,000 scholarship to Bob and Dorita Gray legacy

A Blaine High School band alumnus has established an annual $5,000 scholarship named after husband-and-wife duo Bob and Dorita Gray.

Jacksonville, Florida resident Jake Wolfburg surprised the Grays with the scholarship during Blaine Fine Arts Association’s 26th annual Arts and Jazz fundraiser on February 4. The $5,000 scholarship will be given to a Blaine student annually in perpetuity.

“The band program saved me. It gave me purpose, provided me with community and readied me to create a life of my own that I could be proud of,” said Wolfburg, who graduated in 2002. “Bob and Dorita have put enormous effort into the success of the students.”

Bob is slated to retire at the end of the year after spending the past four decades as Blaine’s band teacher and director. Dorita founded BFAA with other parents and became a longtime organizer of the Arts and Jazz fundraiser.

“I think I just went numb. I couldn’t hear anything for a while,” Dorita said of finding out about the scholarship at the event. “Bob and I just looked at each other in shock.”

Wolfburg said band parents had an integral part of student success, whether it was helping the students go to Japan or perform in Victoria, B.C. Band created an inclusive environment that Wolfburg said always made him feel as though he was part of a family from when he started in sixth grade.

BFAA treasurer Kim Shea said the Grays will help set the criteria for who can apply to the scholarship and a small review committee will likely select the recipient each year. Either BFAA or the student’s university will receive the check and the student can decide to receive the funds in a lump sum or spread out. 

“This scholarship will continue the legacy of building people up,” Wolfburg said. “I know Bob Gray is set to retire and I couldn’t think of a more perfect time.”