Performing Arts--Scholarships

Guidelines for the L. Hill Bonin, Jr. Memorial Scholarship Award, administered by Performing Arts Society of Acadiana (PASA), are available for high school and college students pursuing short-time educational and training opportunities in performing arts or arts administration and non-profit organizations or groups that propose performing arts productions or activities which involve and benefit high school or college students.

Completed forms and all attachments must be submitted to the PASA office by March 1, 2009 to qualify for the 2008/2009 scholarships. Scholarship eligibility requirements and application can be found online at www.pasaonline.org. Applicants with questions about the application process and requirements can call the PASA office (337)237-2787.

The L. Hill Bonin, Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund was created to award talented and deserving performing arts students with funds to support their pursuit of advanced study or training, beyond their present studies and training. The scholarship has been extended to include groups that provide opportunities to students for enhancing their performing arts talents through professional training.

To be considered for an award, students must be enrolled in any high school or college in the parishes served by PASA, be planning to pursue a career or professional training in performing arts or arts administration, be a citizen of the United States and a Louisiana resident, and have an overall grade point average of B or higher on their high school or college transcript. For a non-profit organization or group to be eligible it must propose a production, performance, or activity that involves high school or college students and ensure that the funds will be used for the enhancement of the talents of the students in the performance.

"The Bonin Scholarship allows recipients a chance to learn from some of the world's best performing arts instructors," says PASA Executive Director Jacqueline Lyle. "As a performing arts presenter, we support the growth and development of young talent and with this scholarship can assist students with the opportunity to develop into the top artists they will become."

Recipients are chosen by the PASA Bonin Scholarship committee, composed of PASA board members and a representative of the Bonin family. Recipients, after meeting eligibility criteria, are chosen on the basis of the artistic merit of the proposed training or project, planning and design of the proposal, and appropriate request and plans for the use of the funds.

Last year the Bonin scholarship awarded four recipients, including one ULL student and two high school students.

Flutist Roldon Brown, a senior at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette was invited by Robert Langevin, Principal Flutist in NY Philharmonic and faculty member at Julliard School, to study in Oxford, England. He attended the Oxford International Music Academy and the Nice International Music Academy.

Philip McPeek, a senior at Lafayette High School, and Sarah White, a graduate of Catholic High School of New Iberia, were the two outstanding high school students selected by the committee. McPeek, a member of the Lafayette High School band, used his scholarship to attend summer music programs at Interlochen Summer Arts Camp Ensemble Program, Indiana University Jacobs School of Music Summer Percussion Academy, and Blue Lake Fine Arts camp. White used her scholarship to attend the New York Conservatory School for Dramatic Arts in New York City.

For the first time in the scholarship's history, funds were awarded to a local acting company to conduct a summer theater camp for area youth.

The Summer Youth Shakespeare Ensemble was the first-ever organizational recipient of the Bonin scholarship. This company hosted a summer theater camp for area youth. Students in the ensemble came from public and private schools in Acadiana, local homeschool programs and ULL. The ensemble presented Shakespeare's The Tempest in July 2008 as its end of session production.

If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation to the L. Hill Bonin Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund, you may mail a check to P.O. Box 52979, Lafayette, LA 70505.