Alliance presents Excellence In Arts Education Awards

The Florence Regional Arts Alliance has recognized the most outstanding graduating seniors in the arts programs of Florence County high schools with 2009 Honda of South Carolina Excellence In Arts Education Awards.

The awarded were presented May 15-May 26 at Annual Awards Programs of the seven high schools in Florence County to:

• Austin Clay Poston in art and Asley C. Poston in chorus on the basis of nominations by Hannah-Pamplico High School teachers Murriel Calcutt (art) and Deborah Floyd (chorus).
• Rachel Hunter in art and Amelia Bryant in band o n the basis of nominations by Johnsonville High School teachers Susan Wallace (art) and Larry Jackson (band and chorus).
• Tyler Pate in art, Kentrell Palmer in band and Tiffany McCutcheon in chorus on the basis of nominations by Lake City High School teachers Krystal Gause (art), Susan Cox (band) and Faith Godwin (chorus).
• Erica Levine in art, Tyler Ham in chorus and Jonathon Lewis in drama on the basis of nominations by South Florence High School teachers Wanda Hanna (art), Eric Terry (band), Erick Figueras (chorus), Susan Roberts (dance), Kate Smolen-Morton (drama) and Mark Jackson (orchestra).
• Jasmine McKithen in art and Lydia Wright in band and chorus on the basis of nominations by Timmonsville High School teachers Justus Jefferson (art), Tomisha Brock (band) and Grace Johnson (chorus).
• Marissa McDougal in art, Michael Melvin in band, Kristen Lawson in chorus, and Jazmyne Wheeler in orchestra on the basis of nominations by West Florence High School teachers Randall Dillon (art), Steve Rummage (band), Alonzo Davis (chorus), Dora Mitropoulos (drama) and Ronda Lee (orchestra).
• Dena Raminez in art, Kenyun Peterson in band, Courtney Jackson in chorus and Shang-Lin “Sunny” Chung in orchestra on the basis of nominations by Wilson High School teachers Debbie Welker (art), Roderick Henderson (band), Linda Gilliard-Johnson (chorus), Toni Anderson (drama) and Gene Epting (orchestra).

The awarded were presented May 15-26 at annual awards programs of the seven high schools in Florence County to graduating seniors are recognized in the areas of art, band, chorus, dance, drama and orchestra. Students are nominated by the arts teachers at each high school on the basis of their superior performance and achievement as well as their active participation in both school and community arts activities.

“The Honda of South Carolina Excellence In Arts Education Awards were begun in 1997 to provide a means for recognizing outstanding graduating seniors for achieving educational excellence in the arts while also encouraging them to continue active pursuit of the arts throughout their lives,” Arts Alliance President Harry A. McFadden said in a press release issued by the alliance.

The Honda of South Carolina Excellence In Arts Education Awards are part of a broader Arts Alliance Student Recognition Program that includes the Betty Ann Darby Scholarships.

“The arts contribute significantly to the overall education of today’s students,” Honda of South Carolina Senior Vice President Brian D. Newman said in the release. “It is important that students are well-rounded and well prepared so that they will be appropriately equipped to function successfully in the knowledge-driven economy in which they will ultimately live and work.”