WSSU music program graduate named 2025 Presser Scholar

Award marks second year of national recognition for the university

Winston-Salem State University graduate Keyshawn Tillman of Marshville was named the 2025 Presser Undergraduate Scholar, marking the second consecutive year WSSU has received this prestigious institutional award from The Presser Foundation.

The Presser Undergraduate Scholar Award is presented annually to outstanding undergraduate music majors at accredited colleges, universities and independent institutions across the country. This year, 262 institutions were selected including 17 new schools.

Each institution receives a $3,000 award to present to one exceptional student in their final year of undergraduate music study. Students are nominated based on their musical achievement, academic excellence, and service to the department and campus community.

“To win this award is a testament to how hard I worked to get to where I wanted to be and do the things that I wanted to do in my life,” Tillman said.

Tillman, who graduated this spring, earned his Bachelor of Arts in music business. He hopes to soon work for a radio station and eventually become an artist manager for a record label.

While at WSSU, he was an active and dedicated contributor to WSSU’s Department of Music since enrolling in 2021. He performed in multiple ensembles including the Symphonic Band, Jazz Ensemble, and the renowned “Red Sea of Sound” Marching Band, where he also served as trombone section leader. He maintained a 3.85 cumulative GPA throughout his matriculation.

“Keyshawn’s work ethic, passion and leadership represent the very best of our music program,” said the Department of Music in a collective statement. “He not only excels in the classroom and on stage, but also uplifts others through tutoring, mentoring, and community engagement.”

Tillman’s love for music began in his church choir and blossomed through middle and high school, where he was deeply involved in both band and theatre. At Central Academy of Technology and Arts in Monroe, he participated in music production, symphonic and marching bands, and theatrical performances such as “A Raisin in the Sun” and “In the Heights.” He graduated summa cum laude with a 4.0 GPA and earned numerous academic and artistic honors including membership in the Tri-M Music Honor Society, the International Thespian Society and the National Society of High School Scholars.

At WSSU, Tillman led by example. He served as secretary of the Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity and was selected by music faculty to serve as the department’s resident tutor, supporting fellow students in music theory, history and interdisciplinary studies.

Beyond campus, Tillman uses his musical gifts to serve his community. He organizes clothing drives for the homeless in partnership with Cedar Creek Missionary Baptist Church in Wadesboro and performs music for senior citizens in nursing homes during the holidays. He believes in music as a unifying force across cultures and generations, saying, “Music is the greatest and most inspiring of art forms, promoting equality, inclusion and betterment in the world.”