Typically, the Angelina Arts Alliance awards one scholarship annually to a local high school senior planning to pursue studies in the performing arts field, but for the first time two scholarships to local high school seniors and one scholarship to an Angelina College student have been awarded. Another first, Angelina College has partnered with the Arts Alliance to double the scholarship if the recipients attend Angelina College for their next semester of studies. The 2016 recipients of the Angelina Arts Alliance Scholarships are Hayden Havard and Hannah Young from Lufkin High School, and Eric Mendoza from Angelina College.

Hayden Havard, Lufkin High School senior received a $1000.00 scholarship and plans to attend Angelina College in the fall. Hayden is a musician and plays drums, guitar, and piano, whose long term plan is to study Music Composition. Laura Hoelewyn, music teacher at LHS said “Hayden is one of the most naturally gifted music students I have ever worked with.”

Hannah Young, also a senior at Lufkin High School, has been involved with Theatre Arts and acting for twelve years. She will apply her $500 scholarship to the fall semester at McLennan Community College in Waco pursuing a degree in theatre. If Hannah’s plan to make it as a professional actress falls through she said “I would like to become a teacher so that I can cultivate a love of the arts in young students – keeping the arts alive for the next generation.”  

Eric Mendoza, an Angelina College student majoring in Sound Recording Technology (SRT) received a $1000 scholarship. Even though Eric did not play an instrument in high school and had never studied theory, remarkably, he became a member of the Angelina College Concert Band playing the alto saxophone. Through hard work and persistence, and while holding down a job to put himself through school, he will be graduating soon with an Associate of Applied Science degree in SRT. Larry Greer, Angelina College Music Instructor said “We are very proud of Eric’s efforts at Angelina College and we are proud to offer him the first Angelina Arts Alliance AC scholarship.

The Arts Alliance scholarship program was named in honor of Jane D. Ainsworth, a founding member of the Angelina Arts Alliance, who was instrumental in bringing the professional performing arts to Lufkin.  

For more information about the scholarship program please call Ginger Trotter at 936.633.3220.

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