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Oak Park Area Arts Council Announces the 2008 Fine Arts Scholarship Winners

In 1995, the Oak Park Area Arts Council convened an arts education task force. The task force was charged with studying the state of arts education in the tri-village area of Oak Park, Forest Park and River Forest. Former Oak Park Area Arts Council Vice President and past chair of the Oak Park & River Forest High School Alumni Association, Bill Sullivan, had the bright idea for the Arts Council to establish a fine arts scholarship program. In 1997, the very first scholarship in the amount of $500 was awarded to Joey Nakayama, an Oak Park & River Forest High School senior, headed to the prestigious Rhode Island School of Design. Over the last eleven years, through diligence and dedication to the program, the Oak Park Area Arts Council has awarded scholarships to 78 arts involved graduating seniors, planning to major in the arts in college. This year, the scholarship committee had the difficult job of selecting ten talented young artists. The Arts Council is very proud to announce the following 2008 recipients. Each of them will receive a $1,000 scholarship to assist them with their freshman year tuition and fees.

Rachel Baiman, Oak Park & River Forest High School, Vanderbilt University, Music/Violin
Merril Marie Doty, The Chicago Academy for the Performing Arts, Goucher College, Dance
Melissa Elie, Oak Park & River Forest High School, Oberlin College, Music/Clarinet
Taylor Feldman, Oak Park & River Forest High School, Evergreen State College, Art & Environmental Studies
Rachel Foran, Oak Park & River Forest High School, Carleton College, Studio Art & International Relations
Lorne Jon-Daniel Golman, Oak Park & River Forest High School, Indiana University, Television Broadcasting
Keeley Blaine Morris, Oak Park & River Forest High School, Columbia College Chicago, Dance
David Rubin, Oak Park & River Forest High School, Lawrence University, Music/Violin
Katherine Spear, Oak Park & River Forest High School, University of Michigan, Classical Voice
Charles Kahn, Oak Park & River Forest High School, University of Illinois, Champaign Urbana, Jazz Studies/Saxophone & Clarinet (Russell C. Lissuzzo Scholarship recipient)

The 2008 Oak Park Area Arts Council Scholarship committee members were John Mayes – Chair, George Bailey, Janet Emison, Ross Lissuzzo, Neil McFadden, Keeley McNeal and Kathy Osler.

The Oak Park Area Arts Council Appoints New President of its Board of Directors

The Board of the Oak Park Area Arts Council has appointed Garrett Glass as the new President of its Board of Directors. An international banking consultant, Garrett is an art collector of paintings, illuminated manuscripts, and other object d’art. A talented pianist, Garrett is also on the Board of the PianoForte Foundation of Chicago and a member of the League of Women Voters. Garrett has served as the chair of the Arts Council’s grant program, ArtsFunds, for the past six years. Most recently Garrett was the treasurer of the Oak Park Area Arts Council. Garrett is married to Mimi Ortiz-Glass and is father to Marisa.

Following are the other 2008 elected officers:

Lynne A.J. Palmore – Vice President
John Troelstrup – Vice President
Neil McFadden – Treasurer
Rise’ Wendt – Secretary

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Oak Park Area Arts Council
123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois, 60302
Phone (708) 358-5690 • Fascimille (708) 383-6692 • E-mail: info@oakparkareaartscouncil.org.