Students get rare opportunity to showcase their original art pieces at the Bowers Museum and sell their work like professional artists –

Foundation presents college scholarships to high school seniors

May 29, 2014 – When Santa Ana High School student Antonio Calderon learned that his drawing had received top honors – Best in Show – among all of the submitted art pieces by students throughout the Santa Ana Unified School District, his reaction was summed up in one word, “Incredible!” Antonio was among dozens of artists in grades K-12 who participated in the 2nd Annual Artspiration and Scholarship Awards Ceremony sponsored by the Santa Ana Public Schools Foundation (SAPSF) in partnership with the Santa Ana Unified School District. The event, held Wednesday, May 28, 2014, at 5:00 p.m. at the beautiful Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, provided students with an opportunity to showcase their talents to their family, friends, teachers, and the broader community. “It says a lot about the talents of our young people to have their artwork on display at the Bowers Museum,” said Rob Richardson, President of SAPSF and member of the Santa Ana Unified School District Board of Education.

Although the Bowers Museum is a staple in Orange County and frequented by tourists and art lovers from all over the world, many Santa Ana students and their families had never visited the museum despite its close proximity to their home. “When you walk in the door of the Bowers, and you hear parents say that this is the first time that they have visited, it’s a great feeling to be a part of an organization such as the Santa Ana Public Schools Foundation that provides such opportunities,” said Janelle McLouglin, SAPSF Board Member.

All proceeds raised from the event are in support of arts education in the Santa Ana Unified School District. “Our high school students get a rare opportunity to have their work on display and receive 100% of the proceeds from the sale of their work similar to a professional artist. That generally doesn’t happen for a high school student, so this is a great opportunity for them to engage in a real world experience,” said Audrey Yamagata-Noji, Ph.D., SAPSF Board Member and President of the Santa Ana Unified School District Board of Education.

The evening concluded with grants awarded to teachers for their use in the classroom to support student learning and the presentation of college scholarships to 11 well-deserving graduating seniors who have already made plans to continue their educational journey at Santa Ana College in the fall and an additional seven scholarships presented to students on behalf of the Santa Ana Tustin Soroptimist Club and Santa Ana Unified School District Retired Elementary Administrators. For your convenience, a program and a few photos are attached, and here’s a link to a short video that is authorized by the Santa Ana Unified School District to be broadcasted or published by your media organization.

Background on the Santa Ana Public Schools Foundation:

The Santa Ana Public Schools Foundation (SAPSF) was formally launched on June 23, 2011, as a tribute to the career of retiring Superintendent Jane A. Russo and the lasting legacy for learning she established in her 38 years of service as an educator and leader. Ms. Russo had a powerful impact on countless students served by the Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD).

SAPSF is a nonprofit public 501 (c) (3) corporation organized to operate exclusively to benefit SAUSD, its students, and the community. It is designed to augment, supplement, or complement programs and activities currently being provided by the district.

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