For over 15 years, the Charles County Arts Alliance has offered arts scholarships to one qualifying graduating senior from each Charles County public high school and a student from the College of Southern Maryland. These individual scholarships will help students continue their visual, performing and/or literary arts college education. The scholarship recipients have each earned a minimum cumulative 3.0 grade point average (GPA). Each student's application included a detailed resume, a 500-word essay about his or her artistic and academic accomplishments and goals, letters of recommendation, and an official transcript of grades.
The Charles County Arts Alliance is proud to announce the recipients for this year's arts scholarship awards. They represent the highest level of artistic talent and academic achievement in Charles County schools. The 2015 scholarship recipients are as follows: Lauren Bodamer of North Point High School, Kimberly Boenig of Maurice J. McDonough High School, Ryan Burton of La Plata High School, and Heather Monaghan of the College of Southern Maryland.
Lauren Bodamer from North Point High School is a highly accomplished student. Her GPA was 4.437 on a weighted scale which included rigorous Honors and Advanced Placement courses. She was a member of the National Art Honor Society and National Technical Honor Society and was on the Principal's Honor Roll. In addition to her excellent academic record, she was a stellar athlete having played on the varsity girls' lacrosse, field hockey, and golf teams and earned recognition as a Scholar Athlete. The high school newspaper and local Sheriff's Office have already benefitted from her graphic design skills. Volunteer activities included the Charles County Lacrosse Club, Skills USA fundraisers, and playing for and raising funds for the Southern Maryland Revolution Lacrosse.
Ms. Bodamer plans to pursue a degree in Art with a concentration in Graphic Design and Convergent Communication at Lynchburg College.
This year's recipient from Maurice J. McDonough High School is the truly deserving Kimberly Boenig . Her GPA stood at 4.00 on a weighted scale which included several rigorous Advanced Placement courses and the achievement of high academic honors. She participated in extensive extracurricular activities, including Chamber Choir, Advanced Women's Choir, All-County Honor Choir, Tri-County Honor Choir, and the All-State Mixed Choir. As a member of the Drama Club, she served as its Treasurer, participated in several theater productions, and was recognized as an All-State Thespian. As a Girl Scout, she had extensive experiences which included being a camp counselor, participating in charity drives, and touring Europe.
Ms. Boenig plans to pursue a double major in English and Anthropology at St. Mary's College of Maryland. After college, she plans pursue a career in publishing as a novelist.
Ryan Burton from La Plata High School is an outstanding student, artist, and athlete. His GPA was 3.50 on a weighted scale which included multiple advanced courses and excelling in Arts courses. He was a member of the National Art Honor Society, Student Government Association, and was the Senior Class President. His international experience included participation in the 2011 People to People Student Ambassador Program. He balanced his academic and artistic activities as the captain of the varsity soccer team and a member of the All County Soccer First Team. He joined a variety of community and volunteer activities, notably: the Key Club, Boy Scouts of America, the Special Olympics Winter and Spring Games, Vacations for Vets, and the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.
Master Burton intends to earn a degree in Film and Video at the selective Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts and Design at Drexel University.
Having shown a great passion for the arts and academics, Heather Monaghan is this year's recipient from the College of Southern Maryland (CSM). Overcoming several years of illness and medical issues, she rallied by applying herself to the visual arts. After enrolling in the Arts and Humanities program, she proceeded to prove herself as an excellent student by making the Dean's list in four successive semesters. Professor Andrew Wodzianski says, "Her dedication to art has been impressive in our short time together, and I'm confident her skill set will only expand further."
Ms. Monaghan will transfer to Bowling Green State University to work toward a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Digital Arts. With her strong work ethic and established academic and artistic skills honed at CSM, she will, in her words, "...continue to strive to be the best possible artist I can be."
Arts Alliance Receives $250 Donation from Community Bank of the Chesapeake
Donation Goes Toward the Student Arts Scholarship Program
From left to right: Community Bank of the Chesapeake Assistant Vice President and La Plata Branch Manager Teresa Roach, and Executive Vice President and Director of Sales Rebecca J. Henderson present the check for $250 to Charles County Arts Alliance Interim Treasurer and Scholarship Committee Co-chair Ronald Brown.
On Thursday, September 10, Community Bank of the Chesapeake Assistant Vice President and La Plata Branch Manager Teresa Roach, and Rebecca J. Henderson, Executive Vice President and Director of Sales, presented a check for $250 to Ronald Brown, Charles County Arts Alliance Interim Treasurer and Scholarship Committee Co-Chair.
This donation will go toward the 2016 Student Arts Scholarship Program to offer awards of $1000 to a graduating senior from the seven Charles County high schools to be used to further his or her education in the arts at a 4-year college or university, leading to a career in the arts.
For over 15 years, the Arts Alliance has offered arts scholarships to one qualifying graduating senior from each Charles County public high school and one graduating student from the College of Southern Maryland. This year, scholarships were awarded to Lauren Bodamer, graduate of North Point High School and attending Lynchburg College; Kimberly Boenig, graduate of Maurice J. McDonough High School and attending St. Mary's College of Maryland; Ryan Burton, graduate of La Plata High School and attending Drexel University; and Heather Monaghan, graduate of the College of Southern Maryland and attending Bowling Green State University.
For more information about the scholarship program, contact the CCAA office or go to charlescountyarts.org/program/scholarships.
Arts Alliance Receives $500 Donation from the La Plata Rotary Club
CCAA President Robert Rausch, left, receives the check from La Plata Rotary Club President Jim Cook.
On Wednesday, August 19, Jim Cook, President of the La Plata Rotary Club, presented a check for $500 to Robert Rausch, President of the Charles County Arts Alliance. The money was used toward the purchase of 400 art boxes and supplies that will be provided to kindergarten through third grade students in Charles County.
The boxes contain scissors, #2 pencils, erasers, crayons, colored pencils, glue sticks and bottled glue, and cost approximately $5 each. The donation from the La Plata Rotary Club allowed the Arts Alliance to purchase an additional 100 boxes and supplies over last year's project.
The boxes were delivered to the Children's Aid Society to be included with their student backpack distribution.
Arts Alliance Provides 400 Art Boxes for Elementary School Children
CCAA's Volunteers with the 400 boxes ready to be delivered to the Children's Aid Society.
On Wednesday, August 19, Arts Alliance volunteers gathered to fill 400 boxes with assorted art supplies, including scissors, #2 pencils, erasers, crayons, colored pencils, glue sticks and bottled glue. These boxes will be included with the backpacks that the Children's Aid Society distributes to kindergarten through 3rd grade students in Charles County.
The boxes cost approximately $5 each, and were sponsored in part by a $500 donation from the La Plata Rotary Club, and $50 donations from the California and the La Plata Walmarts.
The Alliance thanks the La Plata Rotary Club and the California and La Plata Walmarts for assisting with purchasing the supplies, and the volunteers who stuffed the boxes: CCAA President Robert Rausch and Directors Bill Adams, Ron Brown, Lorina Harris, Gale Kladitis, Kathy Jenkins, and Amy Jones; and members and supporters of the Alliance: Frederick LeMoine Allen, Leslie Cates, Shirley Cornell, Evie Dashiell, Thirzah Griffieon, Beverly Hardy, Garnett Joy, Jan Norton and Roberta Perry.