Building a legacy that marches on

Members of the Ohio University Marching 110 will soon have a new place to gather, practice, and build community thanks to a $1 million gift from June Konold. 

Konold’s transformational gift to establish the Konold Family Pavilion and Patio within the new Marching 110 Band Practice Facility will soon provide a dedicated space that supports students throughout rehearsals, performances and the everyday moments that define one of the nation’s most cherished marching band traditions.

For Konold, creating such a communal gathering space was exactly the point in order to have it serve as a central location where traditions are shared, friendships are forged and students experience the sense of community and purpose that has long defined The Marching 110.

However, there’s also more to the story, as June’s gift was not simply guided by a desire to create a space anchored in community – it was inspired by watching the profound impact that being a member of The Marching 110 has had on June's daughter, Sara Konold, in recent years. 

When Sara first joined The Marching 110 as an alto saxophone player in 2023 June said she had little idea how significantly the organization would contribute to shaping her daughter’s college experience. 

However, what began as an opportunity to perform in a collegiate marching band quickly became something much more meaningful. Through Marching 110 rehearsals, performances, travel and shared experiences, her daughter found a community that challenged her, supported her, and helped her grow as a person.

"Sara came to The Marching 110 after a period of profound personal loss, and this organization gave her stability when she needed it most," June said. "It’s provided her with lifelong friendships, a true sense of belonging and countless experiences that have helped shape who she is today."

Such experiences have also extended far beyond the practice field. 

In addition to watching Sara develop friendships and camaraderie in the Marching 110, June watched her daughter excel academically while balancing the demanding schedule that comes with membership in one of the nation's premier collegiate marching bands.

"It requires an incredible amount of discipline," June said. "Students in the 110 gain so much more than the ability to play an instrument or perform at events. They develop life skills and gain experiences that shape who they become."

Over time, June realized that she wasn't simply watching Sara become a stronger musician – she was also watching her become a more confident, resilient and capable individual. It was the positive impact that The Marching 110 has had, and continues to have, on her daughter that would ultimately inspire her to make a transformational gift in support of The Marching 110.

For June, meaningful philanthropy begins with finding something that genuinely resonates, and the namesake of the Konold Family Pavilion and Patio carries a deep personal significance. 

The Konold gift honors her daughter, Sara, while celebrating the memory of her other daughter, Anna, whose love of music and early academic connection to Ohio University, earning college credit as a high school student and entering college with near-sophomore status, remain an enduring part of the family's story. It also recognizes the legacy of their late father, a graduate of Ohio University's Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine and a successful family physician who taught and mentored future physicians as an adjunct faculty member.

June said it became important for her to find ways to give back to the Marching 110 after experiencing firsthand its broad impact, not only through Sara's growth, but by witnessing the joy the organization brings to students, families, alumni and audiences alike.

"I've come to realize just how much joy the band brings,” June said. “Not only to me and my family, but to everyone who watches them perform. They create a positive and lasting impact that reaches far beyond the music.”

June’s view of the 110’s lasting impact has also helped shape how she has come to define her legacy through giving. 

Instead of viewing the Konold Family Pavilion and Patio as merely a structure, June envisions the students who will one day walk through it; she thinks about the friendships they'll build and the mentors they'll meet.

Most of all, she thinks about the confidence they'll discover and the lasting memories they'll carry long after graduation. 

For the Konold family, there is no greater legacy than knowing future generations of Marching 110 members will have the opportunity to create similar lifelong memories and experiences for themselves.

“Over time, countless students will pass through the pavilion without ever knowing the family whose name it bears,” June said. “However, what they will experience is exactly what inspired this gift in the first place — a community that challenges them, positively supports them and ultimately helps shape who they become.”