The ACT Arts Centre, operated by the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Arts Council, awarded five Grade 12 students scholarships of $1,000.
Scholarships are applicable to any accredited post-secondary institution to support continued arts education. Selection is based on a combination of demonstrated artistic impression, technical skill and level of presentation, grades relating to the artistic category, personal resume and planned attendance at a post-secondary institution.
“Our scholarship program has been offered to students in SD No. 42 for many years, and since 2005 we have been pleased to have provided $60,000 in support of youth going on in the arts," said Korleen Carreras, ACT arts board president. Each year I find the talent in our community just amazing. We wish all of the candidates the very best as their journey into the arts deepens.”
Scholarship recipients:
• Visual and Media Arts Scholarship: Mason Greissel, Garibaldi secondary;
• Theatre Scholarship, in memory of Amy Wallis: Rachael Renaud;
• Dance Scholarship: Cassidy Corrigan, Westview secondary;
• Music Scholarship, in memory of Judith Bergthorson: Stephanie Kalyk, Maple Ridge secondary;
• Literary Scholarship: Inez Daly, SRT.
Scholarship awards are handed out by the ACT awards committee (Bob D’Eith, Korleen Carreras, Brad Tonnes, Laura Butler) at graduation ceremonies.
This year includes the two newly named awards that honour two people who have departed and left a legacy in the arts community: the Act Arts Council Scholarship in Theatre in memory of Amy Wallis and The Act Arts Council Scholarship in Music in memory of Judith Bergthorson.
"Receiving this scholarship means I am one step closer to fulfilling my dreams of obtaining a degree in music education," Stephanie Kalyk said. "It helps give me confidence and inspires me to reach my goals so that one day I can also inspire others."