Judges Review Submissions to Julianna V. Bolt Art Contest; Winners to be Announced at Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Breakfast, January 19, 2015 at ESU

Posted by: admin on December 15, 2014, No Comments

Art-Contest
Pictured from left to right are Joni Oye-Benintende, associate professor and chair of  art and design at ESU, Geryl Kinsel, associate director of records and registration, Wayne Bolt, Julianna V. Bolt’s husband and friend and supporter of ESU, and Danelle McClanahan, director of diversity.

Volunteers from the community and East Stroudsburg University judged artwork submitted from high school students in Monroe County as part of the Julianna V. Bolt Art Contest on Thursday, December 11. The first, second and third place winners will be announced at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Breakfast on Monday, January 19, 2015, from 8 to 10 a.m. in ESU’s Mattioli Recreation Center.

Place winners, who are invited to the breakfast, will receive sweatshirts that have been donated by the ESU bookstore. The winner will be awarded an additional gift supplied by Wayne Bolt, who is a proud sponsor of the breakfast.

The contest originally began as an essay contest in 2000, but transitioned a few years later to an art contest. There were 61 entries this year.

“We wanted to make it more fun,” MLK Celebration Breakfast committee member Geryl Kinsel said. “An essay contest seemed like homework for the kids.”

For those interested in attending the breakfast, which is open to the public and the ESU community, reservations are currently being accepted. To purchase or reserve tickets for this event, please call 570-422-7000, or click here. Tickets are $35 for adults and $12 for students. Proceeds will benefit the Gertrude Mary Smith Boddie Scholarship Fund, which provides financial assistance to undergraduate students of color at ESU.

In 1904 Boddie was the first African-American student to graduate from what was then known as East Stroudsburg State Normal School and later became East Stroudsburg University in 1983.

As a result of the breakfast, three Boddie Scholarship awardees will each receive a scholarship award for the Spring 2015 semester. Winners are selected based on their ability to demonstrate, through community service or university involvement, a commitment to Dr. King’s philosophy of non-violence, equality, justice, cultural diversity and respect for humanity.

Three MLK awards will also be presented. Winners will exemplify two or more aspects of Dr. King’s philosophy of non-violence, equality, justice, cultural diversity and respect for humanity. One award will go to an ESU student, faculty or staff member, and two will go to Monroe County residents who are active in their community in ways such as advocating for education or working with children and underprivileged groups.

Breakfast organizers are also asking regional businesses to consider sponsoring this event. For more information, call 570-422-7000.