PPAC's Community Outreach Committee Announces Winners of the ARTS Scholarships 2021 Program
Providence, RI – The members of the Community Outreach Committee of the Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC), are pleased to announce the winners of the ARTS Scholarships 2021 program, sponsored by Textron Charitable Trust, with support from PPAC Annual Fund Donors and WPRI 12. The 40 talented Rhode Island student artists, ages 11-14, will each receive a scholarship of up to $500 that will provide them with the opportunity to attend local summer arts education programs that will expand their experiences in a chosen area of study. Please see below for a list of ARTS Scholarships 2021 winners.
Five scholarships in memoriam have been awarded to students who exude a passion for the arts; three scholarships are from the Keri Anne O’Donnell Memorial Fund, one is from the Desiree Mesolella Art Scholarships, and one from the Ragosta Family in memory of Jo-Ann Ragosta who served on the PPAC Board of Directors from 1998 until her passing in 2020.
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; 2021 marks the 25th year that scholarships have been awarded to talented Rhode Island students. The grand total of ARTS Scholarships awarded since the program’s inception is now 740.
Previous scholarship winners had the opportunity to attend summer programs at Rhode Island College, Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), Newport Children’s Theatre, Blue Door Studio, Trinity Repertory Theatre, Festival Ballet Providence, Academy Players, the Rhode Island Philharmonic Music School, Nancy Stephen Art Gallery, Next Stop Broadway, and others.
2021 ARTS SCHOLARSHIPS RECIPIENTS
Abigail Ajca – Nicholas A. Ferri Middle School, Johnston
Christina Arias – Park View Middle School, Cranston
Mia Grace Audino – Nicholas A. Ferri Middle School, Johnston
Keana Blakley – Vincent J. Gallagher Middle School, Smithfield
Alexander Brady – Western Hills Middle School, Cranston
Mariana Cano – Samuel Slater Middle School, Pawtucket
Joy Cassidy – Barrington Christian Academy, Barrington
Jack Cooke – Winman Middle School, Warwick
Elizabeth De La Cruz – Southside Elementary Charter School, Providence
Alessandra Evans – Vincent J. Gallagher Middle School, Smithfield
Cullen Gamache – Learning Community Charter School, Central Falls
Giana Guerra – Paul Cuffee Middle School, Providence
Paige Harrington – Barrington Christian Academy, Barrington
Aislinn Henry – Lincoln Middle School, Lincoln
Haley Kinney – Park View Middle School, Cranston
Gillian Levin – Barrington High School, Barrington
Jack MacDonald – Paul Cuffee Middle School, Providence
Lucas Magnelli – Hanaford Elementary School, Barrington
Lalindasol McCoy – Curtis Corner Middle School, Wakefield
Kylin McGuire – Scituate Middle School, Scituate
Garrett McManaman – Barrington Middle School, Barrington
Emma Mercado – Classical High School, Providence
Skiela Moore – All Saints S.T.E.A.M. Academy, Middletown
Julia Muschaino – Western Hills Middle School, Cranston
Ava Nascimento – Riverside Middle School, Riverside
Emery Parish – Barrington Middle School, Barrington
Brenna Reardon – Narragansett Pier Middle School, Narragansett
Ysledis Reyes – Nathanael Greene Middle School, Providence
Emily Rivera – DelSesto Middle School, Providence
Maiya Robert – John F. Deering Middle School, West Warwick
Kate Rocchio - Curtis Corner Middle School, Wakefield
Eva Sims – Kickemuit Middle School, Warren
Talia Soares – St. Rose of Lima, Warwick
Aribella Tavares - Vincent J. Gallagher Middle School, Smithfield
Maximillian Viveiros – Thompson Middle School, Newport
Colin Williams - Park View Middle School, Cranston
Chanel Yan – Western Hills Middle School, Cranston
Anya Yigit – Beacon Charter High School for the Arts, Woonsocket
Lindsey Ziady – Archie R. Cole Middle School, East Greenwich
Brodie Zolkos – West Broadway Middle School, Providence
Keri Anne O’Donnell Scholarship Recipients:
Norah Bell – Nathan Bishop Middle School, Providence
Juliana Buscemi – Nicholas A. Ferri Middle School, Johnston
Charles Greene – Western Hills Middle School, Cranston
Funded by the Keri Anne O’Donnell Memorial Fund
Desiree Lee Mesolella Scholarship Recipient:
Tatum Brennan – Portsmouth Middle School, Portsmouth
Funded by Desiree Mesolella Art Scholarships
Jo-Ann Ragosta Memorial Scholarship Recipient:
Aiden Marzini – Scituate Middle School, Scituate
Funded by the Family of Jo-Ann Ragosta
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PPAC Media Contacts
P.J. Prokop, Director of Marketing: (401) 574-3103 ◉ pjprokop@ppacri.org
Caitlyn DiPompo, Marketing Projects Specialist: (401) 574-3112 ◉ cdipompo@ppacri.org