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Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2005 | ||
What do you think of this story? Bad Links? | ECCA announces scholarshipsThe Endowment Committee for the Cultural Arts of Fayette County announced today the awarding of $14000. in scholarships and grants. We are pleased that the success of our fund raising activities in the past year allows us to make these contributions, stated E.C.C.A. President Sandra Jungers. The E.C.C.A., a non profit organization in Fayette County has been in existence for 21 years with the primary objective of raising funds to support Arts programs and education with in Fayette. This year we awarded nine $1000 scholarships to Fayette county students who are attending colleges and universities pursuing a degree in the Arts or Arts related careers. This is the largest number of scholarships awarded to a high school graduating class by the E.C.C.A. and by far the largest number of individual scholarship awards made by any corporate, civic or non profit organization in our County, she continued. Fayette graduates receiving E.C.C.A. scholarships are Katie Houghtaling, Starrs Mill High School who will be attending Brigham Young University; Hayley Hughes, Fayette County High School attending the Lamar Dodd School of Art at the University of Georgia pursuing a degree in Art and Design; Amanda Kulaga, Starrs Mill High School who will be attending New York University majoring in musical theater; Laura Jane Miller, Starrs Mill High School, who plans on a double major in voice or piano and pre-med at Emory University; David and Mark Owens graduates of Fayette County High School who will major in music at Columbus State University; Ryan Turk, attending Webster University in St. Louis studying for a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theater; Linda Walther, Fayette County High School will be attending the Atlanta College of Art studying Visual Arts Education; and Lauren Paige Wilde, McIntosh High School who plans to attend Louisiana State University majoring in Vocal Performance leading to a career in Musical Therapy. These students have demonstrated a strong commitment to the Arts as evidenced by their high school records of outstanding achievement. They have not only excelled in the Arts, but as student citizens contributed to our community and their schools through extensive participation in extra-curricular programs. We are proud to assist them on their path to success, said Mrs. Jungers. Over the past 21 years, the Endowment Committee has awarded in excess of $43,000 in scholarships to Fayette County High School graduates pursing arts degrees. In addition to the scholarship awards, the E.C.C.A. has made grants to the Fine Arts Departments at each of the five Fayette high schools. In 2004, grants in the amount of $2000 were made to each school and in 2005 grants of $1000, with a pledge of an additional $1000 have already been made to each school. According to Jungers, One of the most seriously under funded areas of our childrens education lies within the Fine Arts curriculum. Our Board of Education provides all it can to support the visual and performing arts, but it simply does not have the resources to adequately fund these important programs. Making up the difference to insure the continuance of a high quality Fine Arts curriculum becomes the shared responsibility of all of us who appreciate the importance and value of the arts in our society. Each of us holds a key that unlocks the creative potential and the educational opportunities of students who enjoy participation in arts programs. For those who intend to pursue a future in one of the many arts related careers a sound foundation at the high school level is critical. We need the support of residents and the business community for us to continue and expand our level of support for Arts education in Fayette. Participation in our fund raising activities like the annual Valentine Ball and the upcoming Chip for the Arts Golf Tournament and Las Vegas Night are fun evenings that directly benefit every high school student involved in an Arts class, she continued. The E.C.C.A. Chip for the Arts event will take place on Friday, August 26 at the Flat Creek Golf Club in Peachtree City. The event is open to the public and proceeds benefit the Fine Arts Departments at each high school and the E.C.C.A. scholarship program. The Golf Tournament is a four man Ft. Lauderdale format with registration at 9 AM and tee off at 11. The Las Vegas Night which includes a buffet dinner begins at 7:30 PM. Las Vegas style gaming including 10 Blackjack tables; Double Roulette table, Craps, Texas Holdem and Vegas slot machines will be available for entertainment purposes. Mrs. Jungers pointed out that there are no cash prizes or rewards for the games. This is a fun evening to hone your skills for the real thing when you visit Las Vegas! We contracted with Entertainment Productions from Peachtree City to secure professional dealers and equipment to insure a Vegas experience and lots of fun for a very worthy cause. Individuals wanting to register for the golf tournament should contact Leigh Ann Harris at 770-719-9354; tickets for the Las Vegas Night can be obtained through Lee McKinney at 770-487-4635. | |
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