Are you Really Living?
by Alexandra Phelps
Foothill Technology High School
1st Place Tamima Al-Awar Scholarship Recipient 2011

Focus on the Masters and the Ventura County Arts Council are joining together to provide scholarship funds and exhibition opportunities to high school seniors who plan to pursue art studies in college. The Tamima Al-Awar Memorial Scholarship program provides over $3,400 in scholarships and the opportunity for all students applying for the scholarships to exhibit their work at the Ventura County Government Center in Ventura. The competition is open to high school seniors who reside in Ventura County and who show in their application a commitment to further study in the visual arts. Recipients for these scholarships are chosen by a distinguished panel of jurors from our art community, based on artistic merit and visual arts academic commitment as demonstrated by the student’s application, portfolio and essay submitted.

The jury panel is comprised of:
• Susan Gerrard, Artist, Director of Marketing, Museum of   Ventura County
• Scott Miles, Photographer, Professor of Photography,   Brooks Institute
• Richard Franklin, Artist, Retired Architect, Focus on the   Masters Board Member
• Barbara Hirsch, Ventura County Arts Council Board   Member
• Sheryl Al-Awar, Gallery Owner, Philanthropist

Applications are available at the Ventura County Arts Council’s office located at 646 County Square Drive. Submissions must be signed by a faculty member of the student’s high school and a parent. There is no limit to the number of applications per school.

All applications must be received by the Ventura County Arts Council no later than Friday, February 17, 2012 at 4 p.m. Incomplete or late submittals will not be reviewed.

All students applying for the scholarship will be invited to exhibit their work in Expressions of Our Youth a group exhibition at the Ventura County Government Center shown from March 8 through April 10, 2011. The scholarships will be presented to the recipients at the Opening Reception & Awards Ceremony March 17 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The Ventura County Government Center exhibition provides the students with the unique opportunity to exhibit their work in a prestigious venue and work with art professionals in a real life environment.

The scholarship fund was established by art patron Paula Spellman to honor Tamima Michele Al-Alwar, daughter of Khaled and Sheryl Al-Awar of Ojai. Before her death in 2002, Tamima planned to pursue a degree in fine arts. She pursued her art passionately at her home studio and at Santa Barbara City College. Her passion for painting and the arts is memorialized by this scholarship. Focus on the Masters and the Ventura County Arts Council are non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations. Contributions to the scholarship fund are always welcome.

Applications are due by February 17, 2012
Click here to download the application.

For Information on Last Years Winners Click Here