Honorary Alumni Award

Sam Staples has been a longtime friend and avid supporter of CMU’s School of Music and the College of Communication and Fine Arts, and his family is the namesake of a concert hall on campus.

Sam serves on the School of Music Opus Committee, the College of Communication and Fine Arts Capital Campaign Committee, and the Michigan Story Festival planning committee.

He is actively involved with the day-to-day workings of the School of Music and the College of Communication and Fine Arts. He has helped develop special instructional initiatives such as guest instructors and special theater organ events. He has helped bring musicians and ensembles to campus, and he has brokered School of Music partnerships with the community.

In addition to donations to name an office and a practice studio in the Music Building, the Staples family recently made the largest gift in the history of the School of Music. This gift supports music events and annual masters series concerts. In recognition, CMU named the Music Building’s 500-seat performance venue the Staples Family Concert Hall.

Sam and the Staples family are regular and enthusiastic attendees at almost all School of Music concerts and events.

Sam’s nominator for this award wrote, “Sam, Trudy, Karen, Carl, and the entire Staples family have been invaluable partners in the advancement of the School of Music and have become warm friends to students, faculty, and staff.”