WPHS Seniors Receive Scholarships from the White Plains Outdoor Arts Festival Commitee

• Editor's Note: Thanks to the White Plains Outdoor Arts Festival for posting their news. You can post your news to Patch, by for detailed instructions. 

The White Plains Outdoor Arts Festival announced today that it is awarding $13,500 in art scholarships to 6 White Plains High School Seniors at a press conference held in the City Hall Rotunda in downtown White Plains, NY. 

The recipients of the art scholarships represent a talented  pool of student artists in the WP school district who work in a variety of mediums and will be continuing their study of art at the college level. 

These scholarships represent the White Plains Outdoor Arts Festival Committee's acknowledgement of the students' work and talent and are meant to encourage these students to become artists of the future.

The top scholarship award this year is the Ronald J. Topping Memorial Scholarship awarded to Holly Petre in the amount of $4000.

This awarded is given in memory of Ron Topping, who worked for the WP school district for 35 years as an art teacher and the coordinator of the fine arts program.  He was also a long-time member and past president of the White Plains Outdoor Arts Festival.   He passed away earlier this year and the White Plains Outdoor Arts Festival Committee recognizes his devotion to art in the schools and in our community by awarding this scholarship in his name.  Mr. Topping's wife, Olga Topping, was on hand to present the award to Ms. Petre. 

The other recipients of the 2012 White Plains Outdoor Arts Festival's Art Scholarship awards are:

• Robert Gold ($3000)
• Victoria Stangarone ($3000)
• Mae Berglas ($1500)
• Sara Esposito ($1000)
• Anna Socolof ($1000)

Attending the press conference were the scholarship winners and their families, Mayor Tom Roach, members of the City Council, as well as representatives of the White Plains School Board and School District.

The 50th Annual White Plains Outdoor Arts Festival will take place on Saturday, June 2nd and Sunday, June 3rd, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day in Tibbits Park, at North Broadway and Main Street in downtown White Plains. 

The Festival features over 70 artists in a juried show of fine arts and fine crafts, a children's art workshop, a student art exhibit and an emerging artist's display.  Admission is free. 

Net proceeds of the Festival support the Art Festival's Scholarship Fund, which has been awarded for the past 38 years to White Plains High School seniors who plan to continue their art education in college. The Festival and it's Scholarship Fund are grateful for the generous support of their corporate sponsors and of our individual Friends of the White Plains Outdoor Arts Festival. 

The Sponsors of the 2012 White Plains Outdoor Arts Festival are:  Heyman Properties - White Plains Plaza; People's United Bank; AKRF, Inc.; Combe, Inc.; Cuddy & Feder LLP; Hudson Valley Bank - White Plains; Jackson Lewis LLP; Saccardi & Schiff; and Nick Wolff and the Wolff Team at Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty.

The White Plains Outdoor Arts Festival is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization dedicated to raising college scholarship funds for selected White Plains High School seniors who will pursue an education in the arts.  It is committed to providing a free cultural event for the people in the community.

The White Plains Outdoor Arts Festival Committee, with support and assistance from the City of White Plains Recreation and Parks Department, Department of Public Works and the Public Safety Department, coordinates, plans and organizes this yearly event.

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For more information about the White Plains Outdoor Arts Festival, call 866-210-7137 or go to www.wpoaf.org.