The Orion Art Center recently handed out $4,500 in the center’s Eighth Annual Joan Brace Scholarship Competition.
The Joan Brace Scholarship was started after the passing of founding member, artist Joan Brace. To date, the program has awarded nearly $19,000 to aspiring artists from north Oakland County, making it the largest arts scholarship in southeastern Michigan.
The program is sponsored by Oxford Bank, The Steven J. Crowder Memorial Fund, Cyrowski Commercial Realtors (Marce Cyrowski Award), and new this year, The Alana Yaksich Fund (Alana’s Art Fund).
Jessica Ouyang of Rochester Hills was the 2006 winner of The Joan Brace Scholarship, for $1,000.
Kristin Gray of Lake Orion and Daniel Peteuil of Clarkston each received an Oxford Bank Award, for $500.
Megan Hayes of Lake Orion and Matt Moher of Rochester each received an Oxford Bank Award, for $250.
Marie Rathburg of Oxford and Kelly Stieler of Lake Orion each received a Steven J. Crowder Award, for $500.
Matt Muhitch of Oxford received The Marce Cyrowski Award, for $500. Elizabeth VanFleteren of Lake Orion and Benjamin Bertin of Rochester Hills each received an Alana Yaksich Award, for $250.
The OAC is also currently exhibiting its Annual Teen Show, through May 5. The artwork on display was created by graduating area seniors who are going on to pursue a fine arts education.
The OAC is located at 115 S. Anderson, and hours are Tues.-Fri., 10 a.m.-5 p.m., or by appointment.
Call 693-4986, or visit www.orionartcenter.org for more information.