2010 Barbara Benson Scholarship Winners
TACFA Announces 2010 Annual Scholarship Winners
In May The Tustin Area Council for Fine Arts (TACFA) held its annual Reception and Celebration honoring the 2010 winners of the Barbara Benson Memorial Scholarships. The winners are four Tustin area graduating seniors who intend to pursue a career in the Visual or Performing Arts at a college, university, or other professional training program. This year TACFA awarded four $2,000 scholarships for a total of $8,000 in scholarship monies. The Reception was held at Soul at Home and was attended by students, parents, the selection committee, TACFA Board Members, and local dignitaries.
Susan Dobak, TACFA President, commented, “Barbara Benson was a strong advocate for both the Arts and education. I am thrilled that TACFA is able to celebrate her life with these annual Arts scholarships. Congratulations to our four outstanding winners!”
Joyce Lau, Beckman High School, is a technically advanced young visual artist who displays facility in a variety of visual arts media including drawing, painting, printmaking and photography. She participated in a 4-week residential program at the California State Summer School for the Arts in Valencia. She was a semifinalist in the Imagination Celebration and winner in the TACFA Art Invitational. She is not only an exceptionally talented young visual artist, but she also is an accomplished cellist. She recently received acceptance to the Rhode Island School of Design and the University of Southern California.
Ho Yeoun Kim, Beckman High School, is a talented and formidable pianist who plans to earn a Bachelor of Music degree from Eastman School of Music, Manhattan School of Music or USC. Her awards are many and range from being the 2000 grand prize winner (8 yrs old) at the Young Artists Competition in Dallas, Texas to winning numerous awards for first, second and third place in solo competitions. Her talents include playing the flute and singing in choirs. Her goal is to become an inspirational pianist and perhaps compose and/or produce music some day.
Jessica Patalano, Beckman High School, is an accomplished, enthusiastic and ambitious flautist whose goal is to be a high school band director. She attributes her overall pursuit and passion for music to her band/orchestra teacher, Jim Kollias. Academically, she challenges herself with all AP courses. She received the Director’s Leadership Award for marching band and participated in the Cher ry Blossom Parade in Washington, D.C. and the Kingdom Day Parade in Los Angeles. She has been accepted to California State University at Northridge’s Music Department.
Jesse Pak, Beckman High School, is a visual artist who doesn’t just play games, but makes it a mission in life. He won honorable mention for the “@ your library” I Have a Dream Scholarship poster contest, was commissioned to do a poster for “The Sounds of Winter” BHS concert, and was a winner in the TACFA Student Art Invitational. He will be enrolling in The Art Institute of Orange County with an emphasis on figure drawing and a major in Game Art and Design. His goal is to work in the gaming industry, focusing on the initial character development for games.
These students represent the “best” in Tustin! And, TACFA wishes each of them success in their future endeavors!