PITTSBURG, Kan. — Pittsburg High School faculty held a signing ceremony for seniors who received scholarships based on performing arts. Together, the seven students received a grand total of $60,000 annual renewable scholarships.
“There is no one that knows how hard arts people work like fellow arts people,”PHS Performing Arts Chair Cooper Neil
PHS has been holding the signing ceremonies for performing arts students for the past seven years.
“Our school has always done an incredible job of recognizing students’ talents and efforts that are using those talents and efforts to fund their education at the next level, which is a huge deal,” Performing Arts Chair Cooper Neil said at the signing.
The tradition began after Neil attended dozens of sports signings and decided the performing arts students deserved a ceremony as well.
“What these students have done is they are receiving a merit-based scholarship. They are getting paid for being very good for what they do, and they are being compensated because the potential they show is worth it to an institution. They are going to be a valuable part of, here today, Pittsburg State University and the Kansas City Art Institute.”
Norlan Aguilar, Rebekah Landsteiner, Jocelyn Ouellette, Liam White, Kaylix Brown and Melody Kuehn received scholarships for music at Pittsburg State University, and Eddie Darling received a scholarship for the Kansas City Art Institute.
Darling was given a $45,000 annual scholarship based on both his art portfolio and academic standing for the Kansas City Art Institute, which covers the cost of tuition. Creating an art portfolio requires initial concepts for pieces, the work in progress, as well as photos of the final product along with descriptions, and artist statement and dimensions.
Darling said he creates in all types of art mediums and by going to the Kansas City Art Institute, he won’t have to be constrained to just one medium. Darling said his mother, Liz Darling, inspired him to be an artist.
“I’ve always done art ever since I was a little kid,” he said. “It’s always been my biggest passion.”
During the ceremony, Neil pointed out that the performing arts students juggle homework, rehearsals, projects, jobs and other extracurricular activities, and it is amazing that they are able to do it all.
“There is no one that knows how hard arts people work like fellow arts people,” Neil said.
“It is absolutely incredible what these students do, and they deserve this recognition.”
This reporting is made possible, in part, by the Support Local Journalism Project Fund. Learn more at: southeastkansas.org/Localnews.
