The Starkville Area Arts Council announces its Arts in Education Grant award recipients. Area teachers received a total of $4,695 to fund arts-related projects. Applications were accepted last fall; any teacher or administrator was eligible to apply for funds for innovative projects incorporating visual arts, music, theatre, dance or literature in the curriculum.
Classroom grants of up to $200 were awarded to teachers for projects that affect only one class of students. General grants of up to $500 were awarded for projects that affect several classes, the entire school or that may affect students for many years.
Awards went to, at Ward Stewart Elementary, Patricia Collins for “Clay Sculpture”; Kimberly Crump for “Zentangle-Yoga for the Mind”; and Libby Pollard for “Arts Around the World.”
At Armstrong Middle School, to Nicole Dozier for “Young Author’s Book Project 2”; and Sarah Staggers for a spring musical.
At Sudduth Elementary, awards went to Amy McReynolds and Kellie Gartman for “Making Learning FUN Through the Arts.”
Awards also went to Jessica Price of Starkville High for a 2013-14 musical, and, at Starkville Academy, to Cheryl Andrews for “Alphabet Photography”; Elaine Trinkle for “Encaustic Painting”; and Duane Warfield for the “Jazz Band.”
Other awards went to Susan Allen, East Oktibbeha County High School, for “Art in the Air” and “Come See the Art”; and, at West Oktibbeha Elementary, to LaDonna Hunter for “WOCES Art Exhibit”; Brenda Staszefski for “Bringing Visual Music through the Love of Reading”; and Stacy Young for “Architectural Letters and Words.”
Other recipients are Donna Norris, West Oktibbeha County High School for “African Mask Project”; Angie Riffell (Starkville Home School) for “Authors and Artists Bus Trip”; and Michael Shelton (Starkville Christian) for “Greek Theatre.”
A committee of six current or former educators selected winners. Applications for the next academic year will be accepted in the fall. Forms will be available at that time on the SAAC website and at the SAAC office.
The Starkville Area Arts Council relies on membership dues, patron contributions, and events to raise funds for education grants, arts scholarships, community arts grants and other community arts activities. Fundraising events include the annual Gala and Silent Auction, Everything Garden Expo, Cotton District Arts Festival and Forks and Corks. Grants from the CVB-Greater Starkville Development Partnership, City of Starkville, Oktibbeha County, Mississippi Arts Commission, and National Endowment for the Arts also help support these programs.
For more information, go to starkvillearts.org or call 662-324-3080. Or visit the SAAC office at 101 S. Lafayette St., Suite 18.
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