The Hopewell Valley Arts Council proudly awarded its annual scholarships to four Hopewell Valley Central High School 2019 graduating seniors Owen Harrison, Eliza Rosenthale, Ruby Reynertson, and Meredith Taggart.
For the fifth year in a row, applicants represented the community’s best and most creative students.
“These scholarships are a critical part of our mission in encouraging creativity in the Hopewell Valley community and fostering a lifelong participation in the arts,” said HV Arts Council board president, Carol Lipson.
Scholarship winners were those who illustrated substantial talent and deep interest in their selected area of study, and a commitment to further their education in any aspect of the arts, including fine arts, performing arts, culinary arts, literary arts, or other forms of creative expression.
This year’s HV Arts Council Scholarship award winners all work in different media, but share a passion for the arts and its ability to shed light on the workings of their inner self and the community.
Harpist Ruby Reynertson will attend Drexel University in the fall, and her enthusiasm for music is contagious. “My life is driven by passion and self-motivation,” she explained, “with music being one of the most valuable pieces of it.”
Senior Owen Harrison’s love for acting enriches his inner-life. “Bringing a character and a story to life is my greatest passion in the world but it’s much more than just what I do when I’m performing,” he said. “My art has given me a medium through which I can understand myself.” Harrison will attend the University of North Carolina School of the Arts to pursue a BA in drama and acting.
Eliza Rosenthale is a poet whose precision with language helps her articulate and her own self-exploration. She will continue writing as a student at Rutgers University.
“To me, writing poetry is more than translating all the sensory details of a fraction of life onto a page,” she said. “It is about developing a better understanding of myself.”
Studio artist Meredith Taggart is a believer in the power of the arts to move people throughout her community. “I want to encourage people in my community to get involved with art,” she said “as any person can benefit from trying art, no matter their skill-set or experience.”
Though their art and creative perspectives may vary, the 2019 scholarship winners share a bright future for the arts in Hopewell Valley.
Photo caption: Hopewell Valley Arts Council awarded four $500 scholarships to graduating Hopewell Valley Central High School seniors (left to right) Eliza Rosenthale, Owen Harrison, and Ruby Reynertson (Meredith Taggart, not in photo).