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Cultural Foundation Grant Program
This year, the grant will be awarded to a program or project that supports performing, visual or culinary arts efforts, as well as workforce development initiatives aligning with the hospitality industry in Athens-Clarke County. The scholarship deadline was July 16, 2021.
Each year the Cultural Foundation offers local community groups the opportunity to apply for funding up to $5,000 to aid them in carrying out programming that aligns with the mission of The Cultural Foundation.
Past grant recipients include:
- After Romeo student performance
- Broderick Flanigan Program
- Winterglow performance at the Morton Theatre
- Lyndon House Book Project
- Hilsman Step Team for the Youth Step Show
- Mosaic Art Mural at Cobbham Park
Cultural Foundation Scholarship Program
One of the goals of The Classic Center Cultural Foundation is to support the youth in our community in their continuing study of the arts. One of the ways we achieve this is by awarding annual performing arts scholarships to local high school students and a culinary scholarship to individuals seeking to pursue culinary arts education full-time. The Cultural Foundation also provides funds back to the school arts program of each scholarship recipient.
2021-2022 Scholarship Recipients
Sheena Lim
Instrumental, East Jackson Comprehensive High School
Senior Sheena Lim hopes to one day become a professional musician. She has been recognized for her talents and leadership at District Honors Band and at Georgia All-State since 2019, and for the past two years she has served as drum major for the Pride of the East Side Marching Band. She plans to take her vast knowledge to college next year and minor in Music.
Shea Heckman
Dance/Drama, North Oconee High School
For Senior Shea Heckman, dance is more than a talent- it's a way of life. A born performer, she has been dancing for 15 years and her involvement in the dramatic arts has taken her to the Georgia Thespian Conference's All State event for the past two years. Nominated to the prestigious Governor's Honor Program for acting in 2020, Shea has a list of performance accolades that have shaped her into the artist she is today. She hopes to major in Psychology and minor in Dance in college next year.
Sarah Brenner
Dance/Drama, Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School
Junior Sarah Brenner has spent her life involved in dance. Beginning at the age of three, she has performed in multiple musical theater performances and just completed her third year of participating in her school's prestigious cirque program. In addition to dance, she enjoys vocal performance and has been a member of her school's choir for the past two years. She hopes to become a physical therapist where she can work with dancers and other athletes and plans to minor in Dance in college.
Mary Claire Hammond
Visual, Oconee County High School
Senior Mary Claire Hammond found art to be a visual expression of her true purpose when she started taking art classes in high school. Currently serving as president of her school's National Honors Society, Mary Claire has won numerous awards as well as been selected as a Georgia Honors Program finalist for her pieces. She has had two pieces selected for the All-State Art Symposium and is in her third year as an exhibitor with Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation's Youth Art Month. She plans to attend the Georgia institute of Technology in the fall, where she will major in Industrial Design to continue her passion for the visual arts.
Finn McGinnis
Vocal, Prince Avenue Christian School
Senior Finn McGinnis has a special knack for entertaining. He is a member of the International Thespian Society and has acted in numerous musical productions throughout his high school career. He has also participated in the Georgia State Literary Meet where he has competed both as a soloist and a member of the men's quartet. Finn will attend Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, where he plans to double major in Broadcast Journalism and Musical Theater.
Emma Jean Scott
Vocal, Rabun Gap-Nocoochee School
Senior Emma Scott dreams of a future on Broadway. She has a wide array of musical theater roles to her name as well as performances with Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School's cirque program and MADFest. Emma plans to attend Oglethorpe University where she will major in Theater and minor in Music in college to fulfill her lifelong dream of being a full-time performer.
Kalani Washington
Instrumental, Oconee County High School
Senior, Kalani Washington, is a performing arts talent in every way. On the instrumental side, she placed first in the state for 4-H for her performance on bells and has received the award “Most Outstanding Percussionist” twice. In addition, she has sang with 4-H’s Clovers and Company for years, performed in musical theatre roles including those in Shrek the Musical and Urinetown, and participated with her school’s a cappella group for three years. She was also a finalist for the 2020 Governor’s Honors Program in Communicative Arts, which she plans to pursue at Savannah College of Art and Design in the fall as she works to become a screenwriter.
2021-2022 Scholarship Recipients
Hayat Olusanya
Culinary, Gwinnett Technical College
A current student at Gwinnett Technical College, Hayat Olusanya is working to complete her culinary degree. Although she has worked in the hospitality industry for several years, cooking is her true passion and she found herself seeking to express her creativity through the food she prepares. Hayat draws inspiration from her travels and likes to bring together flavors from around the world. her goal is to complete her culinary studies, as well as study nutrition, as she works toward a career helping show Americans that both healthy and delicious options can co-exist.
Alicia Jackson
Hospitality, North Cobb High School
North Cobb High School rising junior, Alicia Jackson, always knew she was interested in Hospitality Management, but she was not sure which area would be the best fit. She attended Hospitality Careers Academy 2021, emerging as a true servant-style leader. In addition, Alicia is a gifted athlete with a background in gymnastics and a current member of her high school JROTC.
Anthony Giordano
Hospitality, Alliance Academy for Innovation
Rising junior, Anthony Giordano attends Alliance Academy for Innovation and is well on his way to a career in the field of Marketing. A member of the 2021 class of Hospitality Careers Academy, Anthony has served as a Vice President of finance and career development for his DECA chapter his first two years of high school. Additionally, he is also Executive Director of his own not-for-profit, Anthony's Arcade, which provides video games to Atlanta Area children's hospitals.
Jasmine Hernandez
Hospitality, Winder Barrow High School
Winder Barrow High School senior, Jasmine Hernandez, has dreamed of owning her own café. Along with her participating in FFA and FCCLA, Jasmine joined the 2021 class of Hospitality Careers Academy with hopes of expanding her culinary skills. She quickly gained attention for her work ethic and plans to continue working in kitchens as she works towards her dream.
Madison Bannister
Hospitality, Clarke-Central High School
A recent Clarke-Central High School graduate, Madison Bannister has always known she wanted a career affiliated with culinary arts. She gained experience by both working in the field as well as participating in school programs like Grow It Know It, the Kitchen Garden Corps Camp through Clarke Middle School, and the Athens Community Career Academy Hospitality track. She was a member of the 2021 class of Hospitality Careers Academy where she was recognized for her leadership in the kitchen as the Executive Chef. When she's not cooking, Madison participates in multiple sports including volleyball, track, and cross-country.