PRESS RELEASES

Starkville Area Arts Council College Scholarships

The Starkville Area Arts Council announces its 2010 winners of arts scholarships. Nathan Ford, Emalee Formica, LaTonya Lark, and Anthony Lowe each received a $1000.00 scholarship to the college of arts where they have been accepted. Each scholarship winner was given an SAAC plaque at their senior awards day. Their scholarship money is sent directly to their arts college. To qualify for the SAAC scholarship, the students must have been accepted into a college or university arts program and must write a personal essay on “Why do you want to pursue a major in the arts.” They also had to send a complete resume of their activities and awards in their arts field, and CD’s, pictures, or a DVD of their work displaying their talent.

Funding for the college scholarships comes from the various SAAC activities, namely the Cotton District Arts Festival, Star Shine, SAAC Gala, Everything Expo, Magnolia Film Festival and Art in the Garden. SAAC Board members and volunteers have art education of our youth in Starkville and the Oktibbeha county as one of our most important missions.

Nathan Ford
One of seven students of the Class of 2010 to have a 4.0 average, Starkville High School Honors graduate, Nathan Ford, has auditioned for and been selected into the Musical Theatre program with Department of Theatre at the University of Mississippi. He was recently named as a Senior of Distinction at Awards’ Day. Among the vast number of on-stage theatre accomplishments accredited to Ford, he also has done set construction and other backstage duties. Ford has distinction of being involved in twelve productions since he entered Starkville High School. During his senior year, Ford served as President of the International Thespian Society and other offices in his undergraduate years. Although theatre is his priority at present, Nathan Ford is an accomplished member of the Starkville Public Schools Strings Program (violin), a member of the SHS Swim Team for three seasons, a Mississippi Boys State participant and an outstanding student with a 4.0 average. Ford has excelled in choral music by serving as an officer of the SHS Tri-M Musical Honor Society, being named to the Mississippi ACDA All State Honor Choir for three years. Nathan’s tenor voice was heard in the select Madrigals, Mixed Ensemble, and Quartet. Ford’s interest in community service has prompted him to be a member of the SHS Operation Smile Chapter, the SHS Invisible Children Chapter, and the Boys Scouts of America. Since 2003, Nathan has been a member of Troop 27 and has earned the Eagle Scout honor in March, 2010. Nathan’s extensive service projects for BSA have included Braille room signs at SHS, constructing handicap accessible voting booths, and working with a companion animal project at a local nursing home. Mandy Kinney, SHS Theatre teacher, states that she is amazed with Nathan’s work ethic. “ Although Nathan had a role in the musical, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, he made it his personal mission to ensure that scene changes during the musical were done quickly quietly and safely.” Dr. Paul Cuicchi, Physics teacher at SHS, said, “ Nathan is an excellent scholar who truly seeks understanding other than a superficial memorization of facts. His can-do attitude made him a leader in his class. It was a pleasure to teach him, as well as work with him on set construction for South Pacific.” Nathan Ford’s parents are Artis and Karen Ford.

Emalee Formica
An award-winning artist, Emalee Formica has numerous local, regional and national accolades for her drawing and painting skills. Formica was accepted into Savannah School of Art and Design. During her elementary school years, Formica has the distinction of living in both Italy and Germany while her father served in the military. A recent honors graduate of Starkville Academy, Emalee Formica recently received second place at the Third District Congressional Art Competition in photography. During her junior year, Formica won third place in the Congressional Contest in both Painting and Drawing categories. Locally, she has won a third place in the Noxubee Refuge Photography Contest. Formica has garnered honorable mentions in her junior and senior years for Photography, and Best of Show during her senior year at the Prairie Arts Festival Student Contest. She won second place for her photo talent in both the MSU Photo Contest and at the West Point Photo Contest. During her junior year, Formica won third place for drawing at the Cotton District Arts Festival. She also took a first in Photography and Best of Show for Drawing in the 2010 CDAF Student Contest. Regionally, has been honored with the Gold Key for Senior Portfolio, Gold Key for Individual Photo, and two Silver Keys for Individual Photos with the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. At Starkville Academy, Emalee Formica excelled at Science Fair winning third place in Engineering for two consecutive years. Formica was a member of the SA tennis team for four years. Part of her community service at Starkville Academy was working in the elementary school office for three years. During her senior year, Formica assisted with both Habitat for Humanity, and designing T-shirts for Haiti. Robin Pigg, Formica’s art teacher at Starkville Academy, said of her, “Emalee has always displayed a high degree of integrity, responsibility and ambition with her artwork. She is definitely a leader rather than a follower.” In another recommendation, Julie MacGown, stated that “Emalee’s photography, pointing and drawing ability is truly astonishing. Her ability to capture the “essence “of a person is awe-inspiring.” Emalee Formica’s mother is Kim Formica.

LaTonya Lark
Starkville High student, LaTonya Lark, was named the overall winner in the 2010 Third District Congressional Art Competition and her drawing, “Seashells of Galilee,” will hang in the U.S. Capitol for one year beginning in June. Regionally, Lark has won Gold Key Scholastic Art Awards in 2005, 2008, 2010, and the Silver Key Scholastic Art Award twice. She was been honored with a Jurors Award with the Scholastic Art contest. A member of the National Art Honor Society, Lark was also mentored other art students in their process of learning. She served as president of the Fashion Design Program at SHS. Another extracurricular activity at Starkville High in which Lark participated was Project P.A.S.S. in 2009. Lark has been accepted into Savannah College of Art and Design, Mississippi University for Women, and East Mississippi Community College. Her major will be Studio Arts. Lark will make her college decision later in the summer. Andrew Lark, renowned Starkville High art teacher and LaTonya Lark’s father, speaks of his daughter as an ambassador for the SHS Visual Arts Program. He goes on to say, “LaTonya is an exceptional student with a God-given gift in so many different art fields from sculpture to drawing, painting and fashion design and accessories. She is a true renaissance woman as an artist. Her commitment and dedication to her artworks is beyond words to say.” Veteran biology teacher at Starkville High, Debbie Tolbert, spoke of LaTonya’s work habits as being excellent. Tolbert states in her recommendation that “LaTonya took great pride in every assignment that she did. The work had to be perfect before LaTonya would turn in an assignment. She has a wonderful attitude and students of all races are drawn to her.” In addition to her SAAC art award, Lark received a 2010 Maranatha Faith Center Scholarship during awards day. LaTonya Lark’s parents are Andrew and Jeanine Lark.

Anthony Lowe
A National Honor Society member and graduate of Starkville High School, Anthony Lowe received Mississippi Scholars Recognition at the recent senior awards day. Lowe has been accepted into Mississippi State University and will study Computer Graphic Arts. In 2006, Lowe received honorable mention in drawing at the Cotton District Arts Festival. In 2008, Lowe was chosen as the Student of the Month in Computer Graphics Technology II. His teacher of Computer Graphics Technology, Ray New, said in his recommendation that “Anthony Lowe is a dedicated, conscientious young man who has proven himself in the classroom. He has shown leadership, scholarship, and determination in his work.” New goes to say in his letter, “Anthony is simply an outstanding young man with a strong work ethic.” Andrew Lark, art teacher at Starkville High School, taught Lowe during his freshman year and felt as though Anthony was a young and upcoming aspiring artist. In Lark’s words, “ Anthony Lowe’s artwork had a unique style that was like nothing I had ever seen. He loved the visual arts with a passion and was committed to every work of art that he began.” Lowe is a member of the Boys and Girls Club of the Golden Triangle. He has served as treasurer for the Keystone Club there for two years. Anthony Lowe’s parents are Anthony and Cheryl Lowe.
From the top of the stairs to the bottom: Anthony Lowe, Nathan Ford, LaTonya Lark, and Emalee Formica.

2010 Summer Arts Training Scholarships Awarded
Students received help with camp tuition (Summer Scholars' On Stage Camp and Doodlerz-Kidz Kamp for Art, and the Mississippi Lions Band camp). Partial funding for art and pottery group lessons were made to Main Street Arts. Four students were funded for a portion of private art or piano lessons.

A total of 26 students from Starkville and Oktibbeha County were recipients of the scholarships.
Students had to have a teacher, counselor, or mentor fill out a form and write a recommendation. Students also had to write about the upcoming summer event. The winners are:
Nicholas S. Bell
Colin Damms
Racheal Damms
Victoria Hearn
Lauren Hughes
Cullom McCormick
Ryan Mott
Auther Edward
Genny Fischer
Sarah Fischer
Jonathan Franz
Amari Harris
Katherine Hudson
Nour Jarrah
Helena Ma
Barzinia Keion Smith
Allexie Rose Williams
Kelsey Damms
Will Prewitt
Jenny Huang
Sarah Claire Swiderski
Robby Sainsbury
Ciara Oakley
CiCi Zhang