Honorary Alumni Award

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

Sam has served 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 was actively involved with the day-to-day operations of the School of Music and the College of Arts and Media. He helped develop special instructional initiatives, such as guest instructors and special theater organ events. He has also helped bring musicians and ensembles to campus and 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 made one of the largest gifts 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.”