With the help of the Junior Woman’s Club of Williamsburg, three area high school artists will find it a little easier to pursue their passions as college approaches this fall. Using funds raised during Art on the Square April 29, the club awarded the Richard E. and Janet L. DePaul Art Scholarship totaling $6,000 to the seniors interested in visual or performing arts.
“The arts are very important,” said Meg Trainor, Art on the Square co-chairwoman, who studied art history in college. “It’s good to create something, something beautiful in this type of environment that we live in, where everybody seems to be so busy with their phones and all the work that they have.”
The funds come from poster and raffle ticket sales during the club’s spring art event. Applicants submitted their transcripts, letters of recommendation and examples of original works to the scholarship committee, and they had the chance to speak to the panel about themselves and their art.
Bridget Hamel, of James City County, impressed with her woodblock and print etchings. Williamsburg’s Norah Peterson did the same with her paintings and musician Andrew Shield, of James City County used his guitar performance to seal the deal.
“These folks really presented themselves really well. They spoke about their artwork and you could see the passion that they have for it,” Trainor said.
Janet DePaul said all three recipients were well-rounded, earning high grades and giving time for community service and extracurricular activities. She said her husband, painter Richard DePaul, similarly received a scholarship in high school that helped him pursue that interest. The couple has worked with the woman’s club for more than 20 years.
“It’s just our way of paying it back,” she said. “Every one of them was worthy of the scholarship.”
Shield said the money will help him as he prepares to study jazz performance at the New England Comsevatory of Music in the fall.
“I was excited. I was jumping up and down when I heard,” he said. “They’re really helping a lot of people. It really has a positive effect.”
Hamel will pursue her interest in visual arts at Virginia Commonwealth University and Peterson will do the same at the College of William and Mary.
Janet DePaul said that in a world where school arts programs are often the first to receive cuts in funding, it’s important to encourage those with the creativity and commitment to keep art alive and well.
“In times of crisis, what do civilizations try to save? It defines a culture,” she said.
Birkenmeyer can be reached by email at sbirkenmeyer@vagazette.com, by phone at 757-790-3029 or on Twitter @sethbirkenmeyer.
