June 27, 2008

Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs Executive Director John Bracey today expressed the council's congratulations to the Michigan students whose artistic achievements have been recognized through the 2008 youngARTS (TM) program. Students from Ann Arbor, Bloomfield Hills, Interlochen, Portage, Saginaw, Temperance and West Bloomfield received youngARTS awards, given to high school seniors nationwide who demonstrate exceptional talent and accomplishments in the performing, visual and literary arts.

"As strong believers in the benefits of quality arts education - both to enrich the lives of young people and to foster creative thinking for future leaders - we are extremely proud of these talented students," said Bracey. "Such national distinction highlights the return on investment Michigan gains by supporting robust arts and cultural programs in our schools."

Of the approximately 6,000-8,000 students who register for youngARTS each year, about 10 percent receive cash awards totaling over $500,000. The 150 finalists get an all-expense-paid trip to Miami for youngARTS Week, which includes master classes, showcase performances, exhibitions, enrichment programs and final adjudications. Approximately 550 Honorable Mention and Merit award winners receive cash awards but do not participate in youngARTS Week.

The 17 youngARTS winners, including two finalists, from Michigan are:

• Bedford Senior High School in Temperance
  Michael George Connelly - Honorable Mention Award ($250), Visual Arts Digital
  Jeshua David Schuster - Merit Award ($100), Visual Arts Digital
  


• Clonlara School in Ann Arbor
  Ryan Patrick Steele - Silver Award ($5,000), Jazz
  Ryan Patrick Steele - Honorable Mention Award ($250), Ballet
  


• Community High School in Ann Arbor
  Samuel Luca Rast - Honorable Mention Award ($250), French Horn
  


• Cranbrook School in Bloomfield Hills
  Brigid Sophia Babbish - Merit Award ($100), Bassoon
  


• Interlochen Arts Academy
  Kyle Mack Coolidge - Honorable Mention Award ($250), Classical Piano
  Alice Elizabeth Hefferlin Thomsen - Honorable Mention Award ($250), Short Story
  Samuel Wilson Hinkle - Silver Award ($5,000), Classical Baritone
  Irene Paige Hofstetter - Merit Award ($100), Poetry
  Aaron Richard Jaffe - Merit Award ($100), Cinematic Arts
  Andrew Michael Marquardt - Merit Award ($100), Spoken Only
  Ines Pujos - Merit Award ($100), Poetry
  Shawn Carl Smith - Merit Award ($100), Photography Digital
  


• Portage Northern High School
  Kjartan Loberg Code - Merit Award ($100), Visual Arts Digital
  


• Saginaw Arts And Sciences Academy
  Morgan Gabriel Mcmillon - Merit Award ($100), Saxophone
  


• West Bloomfield High School
  Samantha Nicole Scipio - Honorable Mention Award ($250), Tap

The youngARTS program is part of the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts (NFAA), the only organization that encourages and recognizes artistic excellence in all art forms. For more information about youngARTS, visit www.youngARTS.org.

The Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs serves to encourage, develop and facilitate an enriched environment of artistic, creative, cultural activity in Michigan. It is an agency within the Michigan Department of History, Arts and Libraries. For more information, visit www.michigan.gov/arts.

Dedicated to enriching quality of life and strengthening the economy by providing access to information, preserving and promoting Michigan's heritage and fostering cultural creativity, the Department of History, Arts and Libraries also includes the Library of Michigan, the Mackinac Island State Park Commission and the Michigan Historical Center. Learn more at www.michigan.gov/hal.

Read more press releases from the Department of History, Arts and Libraries (HAL).