By Daily Press staff
One-hundred-seventy Los Angeles County students — including seven from Santa Monica — have been selected as California Arts Scholars.
The students, who represent nearly one-third of the 520 scholars announced throughout the state, will be honored at a special awards ceremony hosted by Paramount Pictures on Friday, May 30 at noon. The event will be sponsored by a grant from Union Bank of California.
Santa Monica students who will be among the honorees are Caitlin Kirkpatrick (creative writing), Liza Epps (visual arts), Samara Kaplan (dance), Max Vernon (creative writing), Brooke Borcherding (visual arts), Dylan Armon-Mattingly (visual arts), and Alexandra Lewin (visual arts).
First Lady Sharon Davis will present the Governor’s Proclamation, which declares May 30 as California Arts Scholars Day. Producer/director Charles Haid will serve as master of ceremonies.
Honored for accomplishments in animation, creative writing, dance, music, film/video, theater and visual arts, the young California artists were selected for their artistic talent by a distinguished panel of judges, which included practicing professionals.
They will participate in local ceremonies throughout the state, where each will be awarded a Governor’s Arts Scholar Medallion.
The Governor’s Award recognizes students who have been selected to attend, or are wait listed for, the month-long California State Summer School for the Arts program, known as InnerSpark. Chosen from 1,400 applicants statewide, the 170 Southland scholars represent nearly 80 public and private secondary schools throughout Los Angeles County.
“One of the most important goals of the Arts Scholars program, is to honor and train the most talented young artists in California,” said Susan Dolgen, chair of the California State Summer School for the Arts Board of Trustees. “Scholarships have historically been awarded and approximately 50 percent of the students receive financial assistance.”
InnerSpark will be held this year at the California Institute of the Arts in Valencia from July 12 through Aug. 9, where these talented high school students will explore their creative potential. Working and living together in a community setting where dozens of distinguished practicing professionals teach them, the students will nurture their talents and realize their dreams.
InnerSpark is funded through a partnership between the public and private sectors. InnerSpark was established 17 years ago by the California Legislature and signed into law by Gov. George Deukmejian in 1986. Scholarships are available to California residents.
For additional information about the program, visit the organization's web site at www.csssa.org or call (916) 227-9320.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 2, 2003. Read the original PDF.