Jo-Ann Ragosta, Chairperson of the ARTS Scholarships 2019 program, along with the members of the Community Outreach Committee of the Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC), are pleased to announce the winners of the ARTS Scholarships 2019 program, sponsored by Textron Charitable Trust and PPAC Annual Fund Donors. This year’s program will award scholarships to 35 talented Rhode Island students, aged 11 – 14, each of whom will receive a scholarship of up to $500 to attend a local summer arts education program of their choice (please see below for the list of ARTS Scholarships 2019 winners).
The ARTS Scholarships 2019 awards were presented to the winners during a ceremony for recipients and invited guests at the Providence Performing Arts Center on Wednesday, May 8, 2019. PPAC Board of Directors Chairman Joseph W. Walsh, Esq. presented the ARTS Scholarships 2019 awards along with Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza, Textron’s Community Affairs Manager Karen Warfield, PPAC’s Director of Marketing P.J. Prokop, and ARTS Scholarships logo artist Brett Cook.
Three scholarships in memoriam were awarded to students who exude a passion for the arts; one from the Keri Anne O’Donnell Memorial Fund, one from the Jessie’s Dream Scholarship Fund, and one from the Desiree Mesolella Art Scholarships.
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. Since then, 576 scholarships have been awarded to talented Rhode Island students.
The total amount of scholarships awarded increased to 611 following the awards ceremony on May 8. Previous scholarship winners had the opportunity to attend summer programs at Rhode Island College, Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), Mount Saint Charles Academy, Trinity Repertory Theatre, CCRI – Kids College, Festival Ballet Providence, Academy Players, the Rhode Island Philharmonic Music School, Nancy Stephen Art Gallery, Next Stop Broadway, and others..
2019 ARTS SCHOLARSHIPS RECIPIENTS
Kayloni Almonte – Sophia Academy, Providence
Riley Barrio – Gov. Christopher DelSesto Middle School, Providence
Alexis Belanger – Joseph L. McCourt Middle School, Cumberland
Bailey Brennan – Frank E. Thompson Middle School, Newport
Asniel Cruzeta – Carl G. Lauro Elementary School, Providence
Claire Cunningham – Lincoln School, Providence
Joseph Davis – Sarah Dyer Barnes Elementary School, Johnston
Isabella D’Errico – Nicholas A. Ferri Middle School, Johnston
Tatiana DiCecco – Western Hills Middle School, Cranston
Cristofer Flores – Gov. Christopher DelSesto Middle School, Providence
Mia Gomez – Carl G. Lauro Elementary School, Providence
Cadence Koenig – Western Hills Middle School, Cranston
Zachary Leone – Hope Highlands Middle School, Cranston
Avery Lough – Saint Philip School, Greenville
Thynashia Lovett – Esek Hopkins Middle School, Providence
Camden Lussier – Western Hills Middle School, Cranston
Delia Macedo – Francis J. Varieur Elementary School, Pawtucket
Ashley Matos – Hugh B. Bain Middle School, Cranston
Payton Mays – Western Hills Middle School, Cranston
Alayna Medina – Warwick Veterans Memorial Middle School, Warwick
Bilma Morales – Carl G. Lauro Elementary School, Providence
Migdalia Morales – Segue Institute for Learning, Central Falls
Cain Morton – John F. Deering Middle School, West Warwick
Ashley Muchiri – Barrington Christian Academy, Barrington
Paolo Ordinola – Nathanael Greene Middle School, Providence
Wendy Panadero Dubon – Esek Hopkins Middle School, Providence
Shaily Quiroa – Gov. Christopher DelSesto Middle School, Providence
Saphire Rai-Hoffman – French American School, Providence
Fabricio Reyes – Carl G. Lauro Elementary School, Providence
Isabel Sullivan – Saint Margaret School, Rumford
Xyarrah Tejeda – Carl G. Lauro Elementary School, Providence
Maggrey Volcimus – Gov. Christopher DelSesto Middle School, Providence
2019 Keri Anne O’Donnell Scholarship Recipient:
Nina Lautieri – Nicholas A. Ferri Middle School, Johnston
Funded by the Keri Anne O’Donnell Memorial Fund
2019 Jessie’s Dream Scholarship Recipient:
Haylie O’Connor – John F. Deering Middle School, West Warwick
Funded by Jessie's Dream Scholarship Fund
2019 Desiree Mesolella Art Scholarship Recipient:
Karyssa Maynard – Ponaganset High School, North Scituate
Funded by Desiree Mesolella Art Scholarships
