SILER CITY, N.C. — A JMArts Scholars award has been named to celebrate the life of Jordan-Matthews High School sophomore Summer Soria Mora, who passed away earlier this month.

JMArts Scholars are selected each year and presented a scholarship for intensive study over the summer, usually at weeklong, residential workshops offered on university campuses. Soria Mora, an inspiring alto saxophonist who performed in the Jordan-Matthews and All-Chatham bands, was a 2025 JMArts Scholar who cared for everyone and made life better for all who knew her.

The award will be named the JMArts Summer Soria Mora Scholarship at least for the next three years when she would have been studying at Jordan-Matthews, with the possibility that it may be extended indefinitely. JMArts President Rose Pate said the board wanted to make sure that her high school classmates could honor and carry on her legacy.

“Being a JMArts Scholar was a game-changer for me while I was a student at JM,” said band director Aaron Partin, who was awarded scholarships in 2017 and 2018 before studying at Greensboro College and returning to teach Soria Mora at his alma mater. “I’m glad we can honor Summer’s memory and impact in this way.”

Since being launched in 2012, the JMArts Scholar program has awarded 113 scholarships to 79 students, who develop their talent and explore artistic options before making their college decisions. Anyone wanting to contribute in memory of Soria Mora can find information online at jmarts.org.

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