Staff report

The Board of Directors of the Suffolk Art League were please to award scholarships to four middle and high school students for 2004 – 2005. Through the Suffolk Art League/Chip Picot Memorial Scholarship Fund, $1000 is presented each year to students in grades 6 – 12 to help them explore and pursue their interest in the arts. Scholarships are awarded for visual, performing and literary arts. Jesse Apple, Emily Brown, Nikia Kigler and Melanie Libbey were selected from 11 applicants to receive funding to continue their artistic endeavors.

Jesse Apple is a rising sixth grader who is studying the violin. In recommending Jesse for the scholarship, Brian Medlin stated, &uot;I have known Jesse Apple for six months, and in that time he has shown interest and dedication to music that many lack…His desire and drive to learn have made it possible for him to accomplish in five months what has taken many students well over a year to accomplish.&uot; Jesse is the son of Tom and Carol Apple.

Emily Brown will be a senior at Lakeland High School and is interested in a career in journalism. Her scholarship funding will help her attend &uot;The Edgar Allan Poe Young Writers Conference&uot; in Richmond. Ashanti Ruffin, Honors Chemistry teacher, notes Miss Brown as &uot;one of the many elite students that sets the pace for the class&uot;. Emily says that, &uot;writing is the way I express myself. It’s the way I outlet emotion and it’s the way I let others know what exactly goes on in my mind. I hope that one day my writing skills will take me to places that I’ve never imagined&uot;. Emily is the daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Gregory Brown.

Nikia Kigler is a second-time scholarship winner. Miss Kigler is a rising Junior at Nansemond River High School and attends the Governor’s School for the Arts. Her interests are in photography and interior and fashion design. Victor Frailing, Chair, Visual Arts at The Governors School for the Arts says, &uot;Nikia is a very bright young lady and is very impressive in the diligence with which she pursues her studies and ideas… Her peers and instructors have nothing but the highest regard for this talented, hard working and intelligent young lady&uot;. Nikia is the daughter of Timothy and Eloise Kigler.

Melanie Libbey will be in the 10th grade at Nansemond River High School and will attend the Governor’s School for the Arts in music. In her recommendation, Dr. Kathleen Joyce-Grendahl, Melanie’s flute teacher, stated, &uot;Melanie is one of those rare students who is well balanced in her desire for success, her application of a diligent work ethic, and her inherent intelligence and musical ability… Her potential to succeed in the field of music is superior&uot;. Melanie hopes to &uot;one day be the Principal Flutist for a well recognized orchestra&uot;. Melanie is the daughter of Gregg Libbey

The Suffolk Art League/Chip Picot Memorial Scholarship is awarded each spring to a student or students who live in or attend school in Suffolk. Applications are available in January and are due in May. Anyone wishing to contribute to the Chip Picot Memorial Scholarship Fund may do so by sending a check to the Chip Picot Memorial Scholarship Fund, C/O Suffolk Art League, P.O. Box 1086, Suffolk, VA 23439. To receive a Student Scholarship application, contact the art league office at 925-0448.