PPAC Announces 2016 ARTS Scholarships Winners

Jo-Ann Ragosta, Chairperson of the ARTS Scholarships 2016 program, along with the members of the Community Outreach Committee of the Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC), are pleased to announce the winners of the ARTS Scholarships 2016 program, sponsored by the Textron Charitable Trust and PPAC Annual Fund Donors. This year's program will award scholarships to 36 talented Rhode Island students, ages 11 - 14, each of whom will receive a scholarship of up to $500 to attend a local summer arts education program of their choice, (please see below for the list of ARTS Scholarships 2016 winners).

The ARTS Scholarships 2016 awards will be presented to the winners during a ceremony for recipients and invited guests at the Providence Performing Arts Center on Monday, May 9, 2016 from 4:30 - 6P. PPAC Board of Directors Chairman Joseph W. Walsh, Esq. will present the ARTS Scholarships 2016 awards. For more information on the ARTS Scholarships 2016 program or the awards, please contact Cynthia Goldsmith at (401) 574-3105.

There is one scholarship awarded in memory of Keri Anne O'Donnell, who tragically died at age 15, and is funded by the Keri Anne O'Donnell Memorial Fund. The recipient of this award exudes passion for a performing art, true to the spirit of Keri Anne's passion.

A committee of PPAC's Board of Directors, the Community Outreach Committee is comprised of PPAC Board Members, Rhode Island educators, artists, and community leaders with an interest in the arts and youth. Its mission includes developing arts education opportunities for Rhode Island's young people and making PPAC accessible to Rhode Island's diverse populations. Committee members are responsible for conducting the application, assessment, and awarding of the scholarships.

With a portion of the proceeds from the First Annual Greater Providence Gospel Fest (a PPAC production), the Community Outreach Committee created the ARTS Scholarships program in 1996, a scholarship fund earmarked for assisting students with an interest in studying the arts. Since then, 468 scholarships have been awarded to talented Rhode Island students.

The total amount of awards given will increase to 504 scholarships after the awards ceremony on May 9. Previous scholarship winners had the opportunity to attend summer programs at Rhode Island College, Rhode Island School of Design, Mount Saint Charles Academy, Trinity Repertory Theatre, Camp Broadway, Moses Brown PLUS Summer Camp, RI Ballet Arts Academy, Theater at St. Michael's, the Rhode Island Philharmonic Music School, Blue Door Art Studio, and others.

2016 ARTS Scholarships Recipients

T'aliyah Arthur - Gov. Christopher DelSesto Middle School, Providence

Xavier Barros - Joseph Jenks Junior High School, Pawtucket

Aemilia Blais - St. Philip School, Greenville

Keegan Bonds-Harmon - Nathan Bishop Middle School, Providence

Phoebe Brown - Nathan Bishop Middle School, Providence

Cristina Burns - Frank E. Thompson Middle School, Newport

Ellie Carr - Wilbur and McMahon Schools, Little Compton

Autumn Colizza - Western Hills Middle School, Cranston

Aaliyah Correa - Joseph Jenks Junior High School, Pawtucket

Caroline Creamer - Curtis Corner Middle School, Wakefield

Deisy Estrada - Esek Hopkins Middle School, Providence

Maricruz Flores - Esek Hopkins Middle School, Providence

Aseanti Gabourel - Gov. Christopher DelSesto Middle School, Providence

Allison Gencarelli - Curtis Corner Middle School, Wakefield

Grace Harrington - Barrington Christian Academy, Barrington

Avarose Hauswirth - Lincoln Middle School, Lincoln

Fiona Illobre - Gov. Christopher DelSesto Middle School, Providence

Montana Jacobowitz - Barrington Middle School, Barrington

Skyler Kaplan - Community School, Cumberland

Deliana Mendez - Gov. Christopher DelSesto Middle School, Providence

Jaia Morris - Joseph Jenks Junior High School, Pawtucket

Tai Muniz - Goff Junior High School, Pawtucket

Widalys Otero - Joseph Jenks Junior High School, Pawtucket

Kaylee Phath - Carl G. Lauro Memorial School, Providence

Kiaralee Quiles - Joseph Jenks Junior High School, Pawtucket

Rochelly Rodriguez - Gov. Christopher DelSesto Middle School, Providence

Eliza Rosa - Park View Middle School, Cranston

Amber Russell - Nathanael Greene Middle School, Providence

Jenelle Santos Gomez - Carl G. Lauro Memorial School, Providence

Caylee Silverman - St. Joseph School, West Warwick

Emily Stewart - Nathanael Greene Middle School, Providence

Aria Teare - St. Augustine School, Providence

Christopher Vieira - Aldrich Junior High School, Warwick

Rianna Vien - Oakland Beach Elementary School, Warwick

Dominique Young - Gov. Christopher DelSesto Middle School, Providence

2016 Keri Anne O'Donnell Scholarship* Recipient:

Malik Fernandes - Joseph Jenks Junior High School, Pawtucket

*Funded by the Keri Anne O'Donnell Memorial Fund