“I was a professional drummer in the 1970s and 1980s. It was how I made my living,” Cronbaugh says. “In 2022, I was inducted as a musician for my drumming career into the Midwest All-Music Hall of Fame.”

Cronbaugh is a self-admitted over-achiever, and he says that anytime he is entrusted to work in any position, he gives it his all. The MAMA board recognized his hard work and contributions to the association in 2024, saying he went above and beyond. Even though the board position is a volunteer post, the directors presented Craig with a $500 check. Though he wanted to put it back into the MAMA fund, they insisted he keep it.

As a meeting-in-the-middle solution, it was agreed that the money they intended to give to Craig in the future would go into a scholarship fund that he could name. The award would benefit one Iowa middle school drummer each year, giving them the ability to go to drum camp, purchase new equipment, or hire a drum instructor outside of school for lessons.

Nominations are submitted to the MAMA board, and the board votes based on the applications and information they receive. Six nominations were received this year. Ramirez was nominated by his teacher, Amanda Thomas-Murphy, who won the board over with her high praise of Ramirez.

“My biggest feeling is that helping a young student learn drums in my name makes my drumming career really mean something to me,” Cronbaugh states. “I found it hard to send letters of regret to those who didn’t receive the scholarship. I wish I could have offered the scholarship to all of them.”

The Craig Cronbaugh Drum Studies Scholarship is an annual scholarship and is closely tied to the Midwest All-Music Association. MAMA, a nonprofit organization, that honors musicians, booking agents, DJs, promoters, conductors and radio personnel — individuals from all genres of music. MAMA also raises public awareness of musical excellence and recognizes the venues allowing individuals to display their talents. MAMA donates proceeds from two annual events, after expenses, to music departments in middle schools in the area where events take place each year.

Nomination forms and scholarship information are available on the MAMA website (www.mamahof.com) under the scholarship tab on their menu.