The Community Outreach Committee of PPAC Announces the Winners of the ARTS Scholarships 2022 Program
As of this year, 787 ARTS Scholarships have been awarded
Providence, RI – The members of the Community Outreach Committee of the Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC) are pleased to announce the recipients of the ARTS Scholarships 2022 program, sponsored by Textron Charitable Trust, with support from PPAC Annual Fund Donors, Ocean State Charities Trust, and WPRI 12. This year, 47 talented middle-school aged artists will each receive a scholarship of up to $500 so that they can attend a local arts education program this summer.
The ARTS Scholarships 2022 awards will be presented during a special ceremony on Tuesday, June 7, 2022 for recipients and invited guests at the Providence Performing Arts Center. PPAC Board Chairman Joseph W. Walsh, Esq. will present the ARTS Scholarships 2022 awards. For more information, please contact Ricky Gresh at 401.574.3105 or email scholarships@ppacri.org
Ricky Gresh, Director of Special Projects/Assistant to the President at PPAC, said, “On behalf of myself and the Community Outreach Committee, I’d like to congratulate the class of ARTS Scholarships 2022 recipients and thank their families, teachers, and sponsors for supporting their artistic dreams! This summer, recipients will attend programs like Next Stop BROADWAY® at PPAC, ¡City Arts!, RISE Camp at Moses Brown School, Blue Door Studio, and much more. Middle school is a critical time for students in developing their individuality and self-confidence; the ARTS Scholarships program provides students with the opportunity to grow as artists and as individuals.”
In 1996, with a portion of the proceeds from the First Annual Greater Providence Gospel Fest (a production of the Providence Performing Arts Center), the PPAC Marketing Department, working in partnership with the PPAC Board’s Community Outreach Committee, created the ARTS Scholarships program. The ARTS Scholarships committee is comprised of PPAC Directors, Rhode Island educators, artists, and community leaders with an interest in the arts for young people; the Committee reviews each application and selects scholarship recipients.
P.J. Prokop, Director of Marketing at PPAC, said, “When this program was founded in in 1996, we never imagined that ARTS Scholarships would be awarded to 787 students! Everyone at PPAC feels tremendous pride in providing middle school students with the opportunity to pursue their interests and develop their talents in a discipline of their choice via summer arts education programs based right here in Rhode Island. Kudos to the students and their families, we hope this experience will help you follow your dreams.”
Seven scholarships in memoriam will be awarded to students who exuded a love for theatre performance, music, and dance in their applications. One student will receive the Jo-Ann Ragosta Scholarship, given in memory of PPAC Board Director and ARTS Scholarships Committee Chairperson Jo-Ann Ragosta. Two students will each receive a Desiree Lee Mesolella Scholarship, given in memory of Desiree Lee Mesolella, an accomplished artist in fashion and photography. Two students will each receive an Andrew DePietro Scholarship, given in memory of Andrew DePietro, a young man who loved music, especially percussion. One student will receive the Keri Anne O’Donnell Scholarship, given in memory of Keri Anne O’Donnell, who was passionate about choreography and musical theatre. A second Keri Anne O’Donnell Scholarship will be awarded in memory of Nick Cardi, a supporter of the arts.
The winners of the ARTS Scholarships 2022 program are:
Aanvi Aggarwal – Western Hills Middle School, Cranston
Emelie Regalado Carrasco – Leviton Dual Language School, Providence
Rosanna Ceballos – Leviton Dual Language School, Providence
Marissa Cabral – Kickemuit Middle School, Warren
Jeckslynn Delvalle – Achievement First Providence Mayoral Academy, Providence
Alice Yvonne DiDonato – St. Augustine School, Providence
Raegan Garcia – Warwick Veterans Memorial Middle School, Warwick
Daphne Gates – Curtis Corner Middle School, Wakefield
Francisco Santos Godinez – The Learning Community Charter School, Central Falls
Ryan Gomes – The Learning Community Charter School, Central Falls
Ayden Gonzalez – Achievement First Providence Mayoral Academy, Providence
Tierney Heath – St. Mary Academy - Bay View, East Providence
Judah Hoyle – Home School, Providence
Bijou Leger – Barrington Christian Academy, Barrington
Lily Lessard – John F. Deering Middle School, West Warwick
Sammie Lin – Western Hills Middle School, Cranston
Isabella Lopez – Robert L. Bailey, IV Elementary School, Providence
Unity MacNeill – Hope Highlands Middle School, Cranston
Paige Mahon – Good Shepherd Catholic Regional School, Woonsocket
Isabelle Rose Maxim – Curtis Corner Middle School, Wakefield
Solange Suarez Mejia – Leviton Dual Language School, Providence
Rowan Moniz – Lyman B. Goff Middle School, Pawtucket
Madisyn Montgomery – Edward R. Martin Middle School, East Providence
Andrea Morales – The Learning Community Charter School, Central Falls
Alexandra Neary – Curtis Corner Middle School, Wakefield
Almely Polanco – Blackstone Valley Prep Mayoral Academy, Cumberland
Rebecca Puii – Western Hills Middle School, Cranston
October Rafuse – Lyman B Goff Middle School, Pawtucket
Ivy Rivera – Del Sesto Middle School, Providence
Jaydielle Rivera – Webster Avenue Elementary School, Providence
Daniel Ramon Rodriguez – Robert L. Bailey, IV Elementary School, Providence
Kayleigh Rousseau – Winman Middle School, Warwick
Yanisley Lacan Ruiz – Leviton Dual Language School, Providence
Melanie Sánchez – Leviton Dual Language School, Providence
Hannah Sanchez-Marrero – Achievement First Providence Mayoral Academy, Providence
Sedra Smith – Tiverton Middle School, Tiverton
William Stringfellow – Riverside Middle School, East Providence
Zoe Teixeira – Western Hills Middle School, Cranston
Allison Vinas – Blackstone Valley Prep Mayoral Academy, Junior High,
Central Falls
Brenna Zolli – Western Hills Middle School, Cranston
Jo-Ann Ragosta Memorial Scholarship
Natalie Lux Perez – Del Sesto Middle School, Providence
Made possible by the generosity of the Ragosta Family
Desiree Lee Mesolella Scholarship
Paige Costa – Portsmouth Middle School, Portsmouth
Brea Wood – Archie R. Cole Middle School, East Greenwich
Made possible by the generosity of the Mesolella Family
Keri Anne O’Donnell Scholarship
Lucy Little – Home School, Providence
Made possible by the generosity of the O’Donnell Family
Keri Anne O’Donnell Scholarship, in memory of Nick Cardi
Diesel Doris – Good Shepherd Catholic Regional School, Woonsocket
Made possible by the generosity of the O’Donnell Family
Andrew DePietro Memorial Scholarships
Ryleigh Peixoto – Winman Middle School, Warwick
Jiliani Sanchez-Marrero – Achievement First Providence Mayoral Academy, Providence
Made possible by the generosity of the DePietro Family
-30-