McLean Community Center Looking for Scholarship Candidates

Friday is the deadline for McLean and Great Falls students in Dance, Music, Theatre and Visual Arts to apply for scholarships worth up to $1,200 given by the McLean Community Center.

Last year 19  students applied for the James Macdonald Scholarships: 4 Dance, 9 Music, 2 Theatre, and 4 Visual Arts. Six entries are needed in each category to be viable. Therefore, scholarships were only awarded in music.

The competition is open to 9th-12th grade students who reside in or who attend high school in the Community Center's tax district.

A $1,200 scholarship prize will be given to first-place winners in each of the following categories: Dance, Music, Theatre and Visual Arts. Second-place winners in all four categories will receive $800 and third-place winners each receive $400. There are no restrictions on the use of the money.

All finalists will be required to show proof of age and residence or school affiliation before they can proceed to the final stage of competition. Finalists must be present and prepared to perform at the final competition in the Alden Theatre at 8 p.m. on Thursday, May 24, to be eligible to receive an award.

Application forms are available online and at the reception desk of the McLean Community Center. A non-refundable, $15 fee is required for each application form submitted. For more information, or for an application form, call the Center at 703-790-0123/TTY: 711.

James Macdonald  was the first deputy director of the Center.  In 1981, following his death his parents gave a financial gift to the Center. Since he had directed youth programs and theatre operations while at the Center, staff deemed it appropriate to use the gift money towards an arts scholarship. So the program was named “The James C. Macdonald Arts Scholarship Competition” in his honor.