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Title of your project:
Abstract of your project:
- The Appalachian Arts Project is an organization that offers free arts programming for children in the Appalachian area. Last summer, we worked specifically within the community of Harlan, Kentucky, offering three week-long day-camps for children ages 6-12. At camp, the children attended class in each of the four major artistic disciplines: dance, drama, music, and visual art. At the end of each week-long camp session, the children performed a short musical for an audience of their family and friends. Children were responsible for designing and painting their sets, memorizing their lines, and performing the songs and dances they learned during class.
What did you learn as a Stern Scholar?
- As a Stern Scholar, I learned that while it is possible for one person to make a positive impact in the world, they can not do so without the support of an entire community of individuals. I learned a great deal about the Appalachian culture and the value of their rich heritage, and the unexpected friendships I formed as a member of this community were by far the most rewarding aspects of the program. In addition, I gained invaluable experience leading the camp staff, and learned great lessons about being an effective leader. By the end of the program, I realized that a leader is not just someone who can organize logistics and effectively issue direction to a group of individuals; a leader is someone who can truly collaborate, someone who can be passionate about their own ideas and dreams but still listen and utilize others’ ideas to create a final product.
What advice would you give Stern Scholarship Applicants?
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Develop a program around an interest that you feel passionate about, an interest you preferably have previous experience with. Knowing a lot about your field of interest will make it easier to implement a program in such a short span of time.
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Consider working in a community that you have never been a part of; the new friendships and relationships that you find within this community may be the best part of your experience as a Stern Scholar.
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Get started early. Start work on forming connections within your community of choice as soon as possible. This is a very important part of the application and will help you tremendously if you receive the scholarship.
How would you describe the Stern Summer Service Scholarship?
- The Stern Summer Service Scholarship is a wonderful opportunity for students to develop a passion or interest into a meaningful experience for themselves and the members of a deserving community.
What are you doing now - and how did the Stern Scholarship influence your current pursuits?
- I am currently a senior, writing a thesis in Political Science. My thesis examines the impact of national arts funding on rural areas throughout the United States, and my experience with the Stern Scholarship directly impacted my work on this project. After graduation, I hope to continue my work in the field of arts education, including the continuation of the Appalachian Arts Project.
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