HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to Arianna Manzanares for being Rockit Live Foundation’s 2025 Gibson Lou Pallo Scholarship recipient! Ari’s scholarship includes a Gibson SG Standard ’61 in Vintage Cherry guitar and one year’s enrollment in Rockit Academy (private guitar instruction, band rehearsals and live performances).
Ari shares, “Justin announced my name and the moment felt surreal! I was in complete shock! I was thinking, “No way! This is crazy! Is this really happening?” I was ecstatic! Winning the scholarship feels like one of the biggest accomplishments of my life.”
Melissa and Carlo, Ari’s parents, explain how Rockit has taken Ari to the next level in music and her already strong work ethic, “The professionalism and confidence she’s developed through this program have carried over into her everyday life. We’ve noticed how much more outgoing and self-assured she’s become with her interactions with others.” Melissa also affirms that the lessons she’s learning at Rockit will stay with her far beyond music, “She’s learned so much about collaboration, discipline, and how to handle challenges.”
Ari agrees that she is developing life skills, “Rockit has also shown me the importance of patience—reminding me that with consistent effort, I can reach my goals over time.”
Ari is the third Gibson Lou Pallo Scholarship recipient, and tradition holds that you are handed the guitar, and immediately play it in the next song. Ari explains, “The Gibson felt and sounded amazing! To be honest, I was pretty nervous before the song started. When we started playing “Cleveland Rocks”, a new wave of adrenaline kicked in. After playing the intro solo, the worries I had about playing the new SG on the spot vanished. For the rest of the song, I did what I do best—I had fun on stage!”
