PPAC Announces Winners Of The ARTS Scholarships 2018 Program

Jo-Ann Ragosta, Chairperson of the ARTS Scholarships 2018 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 2018 program, sponsored by the Textron Charitable Trust, with support from Ocean State Charities Trust and PPAC Annual Fund Donors. This year's program will award scholarships to 34 talented Rhode Island students, aged 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 2018 winners).

The ARTS Scholarships 2018 awards will be presented to the winners during a ceremony for recipients and invited guests at the Providence Performing Arts Center on Thursday, May 3, 2018 from 4:30 - 6P. PPAC Board of Directors Chairman Joseph W. Walsh, Esq. will present the ARTS Scholarships 2018 awards. For more information on the ARTS Scholarships 2018 program or the awards, please contact Cynthia Goldsmith at (401) 574-3105.

Two scholarships in memoriam will be awarded to students who exude a passion for the performing arts; one from the Keri Anne O'Donnell Memorial Fund and one from the Jessie's Dream Scholarship Fund.

With oversight from the PPAC Board's Community Outreach Committee, the ARTS Scholarships Committee is comprised of PPAC Directors, Rhode Island educators, artists, and community leaders with an interest in the arts for young people. ARTS Scholarships Committee members are responsible for conducting the assessment of each application and awarding of the scholarships. The mission of PPAC's Community Outreach Committee is to develop arts education opportunities for Rhode Island's young people and make PPAC accessible to Rhode Island's diverse populations.

In 1996, with a portion of the proceeds from the First Annual Greater Providence Gospel Fest (a production of the Providence Performing Arts Center), the PPAC Marketing Department, working in partnership with the Community Outreach Committee, created the ARTS Scholarships program. This scholarship fund has been earmarked for assisting students with an interest in studying the arts. Since then, 542 scholarships have been awarded to talented Rhode Island students.

The total amount of awards given will increase to 576 scholarships after the awards ceremony on May 3. Previous scholarship winners have had the opportunity to attend summer programs at Rhode Island College, Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), Mount Saint Charles Academy, Trinity Repertory Theatre, URI String Camp, Festival Ballet Providence, Theater at St. Michael's, the Rhode Island Philharmonic Music School, Blue Door Art Studio, Next Stop Broadway, and others.

2018 ARTS SCHOLARSHIPS RECIPIENTS

Iris Baird - Edward R. Martin Middle School, East Providence

Mariama Bandabaila - Gov. Christopher DelSesto Middle School, Providence

Brianna Callahan - Warwick Veterans Junior High School, Warwick

Betzaida Deleon Ruiz - Carl G. Lauro Elementary School, Providence

Liam DeRosa - St. Paul School, Cranston

Isabella Errante - Archie R. Cole Middle School, East Greenwich

Catherine Galipeau - St. Pius V School, Providence

Joanly Gomez - Paul Cuffee Middle School, Providence

Sherlyn Gomez - Sophia Academy, Providence

Kayliana Hamilton - Woonsocket Middle School at Hamlet, Woonsocket

Destiny Horan - John F. Deering Middle School, West Warwick

Maria Ixchop - Gov. Christopher DelSesto Middle School, Providence

Alice Kinney - Sophia Academy, Providence

Joshua Kline - St. Philip School, Greenville

Kaelyn Kohanski - Sophia Academy, Providence

Vanessa Linden - Homeschooled, North Kingstown

Jarilyn Lizana - Sophia Academy, Providence

Christina LoPresti - St. Michael's Country Day School, Newport

Maya Madison - Winman Junior High School, Warwick

Olivia McNichols - Blackstone Valley Prep Mayoral Academy, Cumberland

Mia Merlino - Western Hills Middle School, Cranston

Amy Morales - Gov. Christopher DelSesto Middle School, Providence

Lilly Mottram - Alan Shawn Feinstein Middle School, Coventry

Shirley Panadero Dubon - Esek Hopkins Middle School, Providence

Naomi Parker - M. Virginia Cunningham Elementary School, Pawtucket

Madison Perreault - Sophia Academy, Providence

Nitaya Phothisen - Gov. Christopher DelSesto Middle School, Providence

Kelly Picozzi - Western Hills Middle School, Cranston

Abigail Salas - Nicholas A. Ferri Middle School, Johnston

Stynece Sanchez - Gov. Christopher DelSesto Middle School, Providence

Mariana Saquic - Gov. Christopher DelSesto Middle School, Providence

Jasmine Stevens - St. Mary Academy - Bay View, Riverside

2018 Keri Anne O'Donnell Scholarship Recipient:

Alexandra Cowart - Western Hills Middle School, Cranston

Funded by the Keri Anne O'Donnell Memorial Fund

2018 Jessie's Dream Scholarship Recipient:

Neisa Barbosa - St. Mary Academy - Bay View, Riverside

Funded by Jessie's Dream Scholarship Fund

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