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**  FOR  IMMEDIATE  RELEASE**  

CMAB  Awards  Eight  High  School  Student  Artist  Scholarship  Grants      

The  Central  Minnesota  Arts  Board  (CMAB),  recently  awarded  eight  area  high  school  seniors  with  scholarships  totaling  $16,000.  The  High  School  Arts  Scholarship  Program  is  designed  to  help  graduating  seniors  who  want  to  further  their  education  in  the  arts.      Each  applicant  must  submit  up  to  five  art  samples  and  three  references  along  with  their  answers  to  a  set  of  questions.  The  CMAB  Board  of  Directors  review  and  rank  each  application.  The  Highest-­‐ranking  applicants  receive  awards  according  to  funding  available.      The  CMAB  Student  Arts  Scholarship  Grant  recipients  are:    

 

   

Sarah  Barker    

SARAH  BARKER,  Sauk  Rapids,  MN,  $2,000  CMAB  High  School  Arts  Scholarship.  She  plans  to  attend  St.  Olaf  College  to  major  in  English  with  an  emphasis  on  creative  writing.  HIGH  SCHOOL:  Sauk  Rapids/Rice  High  School  ACTIVITIES  &  INTERESTS:  I  plan  to  be  a  secondary  school  creative  writing  teacher  and  work  to  improve  my  own  writing,  whether  it  be  a  novel,  a  research  paper,  or  a  scholarship  essay.  On  a  website  called  critiquecircle.com,  I  get  feedback  from  my  writing  in  exchange  for  helping  other  people  with  theirs.  I've  been  involved  with  National  Honor  Society,  Service  Club,  Friends  of  the  Library  Bookstore,  Friends  of  Rachel  Club,  Link  Crew,  Knowledge  Bowl,  and  participated  in  the  Ms  Sauk  Rapids  Pageant.  For  a  week  I  was  a  camp  counselor  at  Christo  Vive,  a  camp  for  children  and  adults  with  mental  or  physical  disabilities.  I  have  taken  piano  lessons  for  seven  years  and  performed  in  recitals  and  I  am  involved  in  my  church’s  worship  team  where  I  play  the  keyboard  and  also  perform  with  the  dance  team.      

 

Emily  Bengston    

EMILY  BENGTSON,  Buffalo,  MN,  $2,000  CMAB  High  School  Arts  Scholarship.  She  plans  to  attend  Concordia  College,  MN,  to  major  in  Music  Education.  HIGH  SCHOOL:  Buffalo  High  School  ACTIVITIES  &  INTERESTS: I  have  taken  piano  lessons  since  age  8  and  began  playing  clarinet  in  5th  grade;  participated  in  church  and  handbell  choirs  since  4th  grade.  I  have  been  a  member  of  many  music  groups  and  have  taken  part  in  various  music  extracurricular  activities,  including  marching  band,  concert  band,  and  pit  orchestra.  I  completed  AP  Music  Theory  and  Classical  Music  Listening  classes  my  senior  year  as  preparation  for  a  music  major  where  I  composed  a  transcription  of  a  popular  tune,  "Tonight,  Tonight,"  for  pep  band.  In  addition  to  music  performance,  I  have  held  several  leadership  positions  both  in  and  out  of  music.  I  have  served  as  a  section  captain  in  marching  band  and  served  as  a  Sunday  School  Teacher  for  several  years.  I  am  prepared  to  continue  working  with  children,  learning  about  and  performing  music.      

220-4th Avenue North• P.O. Box 458 Foley, MN 56329

W: 320.968.4290 F: 320.968.4291

www.centralmnartsboard.org  

 

Karissa  Cable    

KARISSA  CABLE,  Elk  River,  MN,  $2,000  CMAB  High  School  Arts  Scholarship.  She  plans  to  attend  Stout  University  of  Wisconsin  to  major  in  Graphic  Design.  HIGH  SCHOOL:  Elk  River  High  School  ACTIVITIES  &  INTERESTS:  Other  than  art,  I  also  dance,  write,  and  have  planned  pep  fests  and  other  major  school  events.  I  enjoy  being  the  mastermind  behind  the  important  school  social  events  that  students  get  excited  for.  I  have  been  involved  with  the  Elk  River  High  School  Dance  Team;  Elk  River  High  School  Student  Council;  Elk  River  High  School  National  Honors  Society;  Elk  River  High  School  Link;  Central  Lutheran  Church  Impulse;  Elk  River  High  School  Evening  of  the  Arts;  High  School  Art  Competition  at  St.  Cloud  State  Paramount  Theatre;  High  School  Art  Competition  at  North  Hennepin  Community  College;  Showcase  Dance  Studio.      

 

Brandon  Cash    

BRANDON  CASH,  St.  Cloud,  $2,000  CMAB  High  School  Arts  Scholarship.  Brandon  has  been  accepted  at  Concordia  College,  Moorhead;  St  John’s  University,  Collegeville;  St.  Olaf  College,  Northfield  and  plans  to  major  in  Musicology:  Vocal  Music  Education  and  Psychology.  HIGH  SCHOOL:  Technical  High  School  ACTIVITIES  &  INTERESTS:  I  have  been  involved  in  Student  Council,  National  Honor  Society,  Choir,  Band,  Dixieland  Band,  St.  Cloud  All  City  Marching  Band,  Youth  Chorale  of  Central  Minnesota,  School  Newspaper,  Link  Crew,  Central  Minnesota  Association  of  Student  Councils,  Drama,  Vacation  Bible  School,  Chamber  Choir,  Men’s  Ensemble,  Pep  Band,  Students  Against  Destructive  Decisions  (SADD),  Holy  Spirit  Youth  Group,  Peer  Tutoring,  Knowledge  Bowl,  Speech  Team,  Principal’s  Advisory  Council,  Amnesty  International,  Spanish  Club,  St.  Cloud  Youth  Commission,    and  “Spirit  Rings  On”  Handbell  Choir    

 

Emily  Erickson    

EMILY  ERICKSON,  St.  Cloud,  $2,000  CMAB  High  School  Arts  Scholarship.  Emily  plans  to  attend  New  York  University  –  Tisch  School  of  the  Arts  as  theatre  student  in  the  Undergraduate  Department  of  Drama.  HIGH  SCHOOL:  Technical  High  School  ACTIVITIES  &  INTERESTS:  I  have  been  a  performer  my  entire  life.  Singing,  dancing,  and  acting  have  been  a  more  significant  aspect  of  my  life  than  anything  else  I've  ever  been  involved  in.  My  school  and  community  activities  include:  GREAT  Theatre  Productions:  Amazing  Grace  2003-­‐Fiona,  Joseph  and  the  Amazing  Technicolor  Dreamcoat  2003-­‐Children's  Choir,  Seussical  2004-­‐Who  Soloist/Chorus,  Joseph  and  the  Amazing  Technicolor  Dreamcoat  2006-­‐Dancer/Chorus,  Honk!  The  Ugly  Duckling  Musical  2007-­‐Snowy  the  Goose,  The  Wizard  of  Oz  2007-­‐Chorus,  Pollyanna  2008-­‐Sally  Ford,  Willy  Wonka  2009-­‐Phineous  Trout,  The  Wiz  2011-­‐Chorus,  West  Side  Story  2012-­‐Maria;  Actor's  Playhouse  of  St.  Cloud  Productions:  The  Diary  of  Anne  Frank  2009-­‐Anne  Frank,  Ten  Little  Indians  2010-­‐Vera  Claythorne;  Technical  High  School  Productions:  Curtains  2010-­‐Niki  Harris,  Twelve  Angry  Jurors  2011-­‐Juror  4,  Arsenic  and  Old  Lace  2011-­‐Elaine  Harper,  Our  Town  2011-­‐Emily  Webb,  Much  Ado  About  Nothing  2012-­‐Nerissa;  Youth  Chorale  of  Central  Minnesota-­‐4  year  member;  Technical  High  School  Choir,  Concert  Choir,  and  Concert  Choir  Chamber;  Technical  High  School  Women's  Ensemble;  Student  Council;  National  Honor  Society;  SADD;  Technical  High  School  Drama  Club;  Varsity  Speech  Team;  Varsity  Dance  Team;  Varsity  Track;  Holy  Spirit  Catholic  Church  Teen  Choir;  Math  Team;  Link  Crew;  St.  Cloud  School  of  Dance;  Dance  With  Me  Studio;  Stroia  Ballet  Company;  Summer  Soccer  Coach  for  CMYSA;  South  Junior  High  United  States'  Academic  Triathlon  Coach;  Junior  Rotarian;  Piano  Training-­‐12  years;  Guitar  Training;-­‐2  years;  and  Vocal  Training-­‐13  years.    

 

Karli  Jopp  

KARLI  JOPP,  Elk  River,  $2,000  CMAB  High  School  Arts  Scholarship.  Karli  plans  to  attend  Stout  University  of  Wisconsin  to  major  in  Art  Education.  HIGH  SCHOOL:  Elk  River  High  School  ACTIVITIES  &  INTERESTS:  Growing  up,  I  have  always  had  a  passion  for  art.  In  school,  if  someone  asked  me  what  my  favorite  subject  was,  I  would’ve  said  art.  I  entered  the  North  Hennepin  Community  College  High  School  Art  Show,  and  won  Best  of  Show  two  years  in  a  row;  won  a  Minnesota  Scholastic  Art  Gold  Key  award;  Visual  Arts  Minnesota  High  School  Art  Show  my  junior  year  and  won  1st  place  in  Drawing,  and  my  senior  year  I  won  the  Ellingson  award;  maintained  a  cumulative  GPA  of  3.89;  member  of  the  Fall  Performance  Team  and  the  Elk  River  Dance  Team;  National  Honor  Society  member;  volunteered  at  the  Evening  of  the  Arts;  I  was  one  of  ten  students  selected  to  be  apart  of  the  Young  Artist  Exhibition  Program  through  the  Visual  Arts  Minnesota;  designed  and  painted  three  banners  to  be  hung  in  the  church.    Also,  when  I  have  days  off  of  school  I  will  volunteer  in  my  mom's  classroom  at  the  elementary  school.  I've  enjoyed  helping  out  and  doing  arts  and  crafts  projects  with  the  kids.  This  summer  I  will  be  helping  teach  art  classes  with  a  new  community  art  program.    

 

Sarah  Kremer  

SARAH  KREMER,  Sartell,  $2,000  CMAB  High  School  Arts  Scholarship.  Sarah  plans  to  attend  Concordia  College,  Moorhead  to  major  in  Saxophone  Performance.  HIGH  SCHOOL:  Cathedral  High  School  ACTIVITIES  &  INTERESTS:  I  play  music  because  it  is  freeing.  I  have  played  the  violin  for  about  ten  years,  the  saxophone  for  eight  years.  I  have  been  involved  with  .Jazz  Band  (2009-­‐2012);  Cross  Country  (2009-­‐2012);  Nordic  Skiing  (2009-­‐2012);  Concert  Choir  (2009-­‐2012);  Concert  Band  (2009-­‐2012);  Strings  Ensemble  (2010-­‐2011);  School  Liturgical  Ministry  (2009-­‐2012);  CHS  Minnesingers  (top  select  choir  at  CHS)  (2010-­‐2012);  Youth  Chorale  of  Central  Minnesota  (2011-­‐2012);  Jazz.Combo  (2007-­‐2012);  St.  Cloud  Area  All-­‐Star  Jazz  Band  (2006-­‐2012);  CHS  Pep  Band  (2010-­‐2012);  Pit  Orchestra-­‐  Guys  and  Dolls  (2011);  National  Honors  Society  (2011-­‐2012);  Playing  Concerts  for  MS  Fundraisers  at  Apollo  High  School  (2007-­‐2012);  Playing  for  Red  Cross  fundraiser  at  the  pioneer  place  (2010);  Nursing  home  visits/concerts  for  All-­‐Star  Jazz  Band  (2006-­‐2012);  Nursing  home  visits/concerts  for  Jazz.Combo  (2007-­‐2012);  Church  of  St.  Peter's  and  Paul's  Variety  Show  (2008-­‐2012);  Gave  a  presentation  to  the  St.  Cloud  Kiwanis  on  how  music  has  impacted  my  life  (2010);  IAJE  Minnesota  Mid  Level  Honor  Jazz  Band  (2008-­‐2009);  Hepcat  Junction-­‐  community  jazz  concert  with  numerous  nationally  acclaimed  guest  artists  (2006-­‐2011);  Alternate  Tenor  Saxophonist  for  the  Minnesota  All-­‐State  Jazz  Ensemble  (2010-­‐2011);  First  Chair  Tenor  Saxophonist  in  the  Minnesota  All-­‐State  Jazz  Ensemble  (2011-­‐2012);  Various  honor  bands  and  jazz  festivals  through  out  high  school.    

 

Samantha  Phillips  

SAMANTHA  PHILLIPS,  Elk  River,  $2,000  CMAB  High  School  Arts  Scholarship.  Samantha  plans  to  attend  Minnesota  Community  &  Technical  College  for  two  years  and  then  the  University  of  Minnesota  to  major  in  Communications  (advertising)  or  Graphic  Design  HIGH  SCHOOL:  Elk  River  High  School  ACTIVITIES  &  INTERESTS: I  am  both  a  photographer  and  a  graphic  designer.  I  know  how  to  use  multiple  computer  software  such  as  Photoshop,  Adobe  Illustrator,  Lightroom,  and  InDesign.  I  have  already  started  my  own  photography  business,  which  has  helped  me  with  connecting  with  people  and  understanding  exactly  what  they  want  out  of  my  art.  Most  of  all  I  have  a  fresh,  modern  vision  of  the  world  and  it  transfers  through  my  art.  I  started  my  own  photography  business  doing  family  and  senior  portraits.    

 

The  CMAB  is  one  of  eleven  regional  art  councils  in  the  State  of  Minnesota  with  the  purpose  of  supporting  and  promoting  art  appreciation  throughout  region  7W,  consisting  of  Benton,  Sherburne,  Stearns  and  Wright  counties.  2012  funding  for  the  CMAB  High  School  Student  Artist  Scholarship  Programs  came  from  an  appropriation  from  the  

Minnesota  State  Legislature.