Poston, Graham earn 2009 Darby Scholarships

The Florence Regional Arts Alliance, in collaboration with BB&T, awarded the 2009 Betty Ann Darby Scholarships to Ashley Caroline Poston of Hannah-Pamplico High School and Elizabeth Raye Graham of South Florence High School during annual awards programs at each school.

Poston plans to attend Presbyterian College, where she will pursue a major in music education. After completing her course of study, she said she “would like to teach music to young hearts willing to keep the cycle of music growing in the world.”

She has been studying voice since she was 5. In addition to singing at church and for many community activities, she performed in several middle school productions and landed the lead role last year in her high school choral production. She is the daughter of Lance and Debroah Poston of Pamplico.

“From church choir to local musical performances, I have found fullfillment in vocal performance,” she said in a press release issued by the alliance.

Graham plans to attend Francis Marion University, where she will pursue a major in art education. She plans to seek both a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts, then become a National Board Certified Teacher. She said she would ultimately like to teach in a middle or high school setting where she could “positively influence someone else’s life through art.”She is the daughter of Ray and Beth Graham of Florence.

“Using art, I want to motivate students to learn and think creatively,” she said in the release.

In today’s world, she said, “the pressure to confrom overpowers young people (but) art is important because it gives students a chance to express their individuality and discover who they are.”

“The recipients of the Betty Ann Darby Scholarships exemplify the highest commitment to achieving success,” BB&T Senior Vice President B. Frank James said in the release. “I congratulate these students for their superior performance and achievement, and I encourage them to make excellence a life-long goal.”

Darby served Florence School District 1 for 39 years as a music administrator and teacher. Since her retirement in 1987, she has embraced a broad array of volunteer activites in the arts community, including the Florence Symphony Orchestra as well as the cause of the Francis Marion University Performing Arts Center.

Poston and Graham are the the 19th and 20th recipients of the scholarships named for Darby since the program was established in 1997. The scholarships are open to all Florence County graduating seniors who will be pursuing advanced academic or professional degrees with a major in an arts discipline or in arts education.

The Betty Ann Darby Scholarships are part of a broader Arts Alliance Student Recognition Program that includes the Honda of South Carolina Excellence In Arts Education Awards. For more information, call the Florence Regional Arts Alliance at (843) 665-2787 or e-mail .