Jackson Free Press

A Jackson public school has received national recognition for its part in making the fine arts a component of students' education. The school also received a grant to support its arts program.

Power Academic and Performing Arts Complex is one of four schools in the nation to receive a National Schools of Distinction in Arts Education Award for the 2010-2011 school year from the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts. The school received the award at a ceremony today.

Former Gov. William Winter, whose law firm adopted Power APAC, said Mississippi has produced great artists, such as opera singer Leontyne Price, but has taken them for granted.

"I have known all my life, since I was a little boy growing up in the rural areas of Grenada County, that we have so many artists out there, so many great musicians, so many great authors, so many great writers--Mississippi-bred, Mississippi-raised," Winter said. "And yet, I also knew ... how many of them have talent that was never enough. How many other Leontyne Prices have there been in Mississippi that never got the opportunity, for whatever reason, to develop their talent?"

Winter said many Mississippians have set their sights too low and take the state's intellectual and artistic talent for granted.

"In my opinion, we have undervalued public education," Winter said. "APAC is a public school. Let this be a showcase for public education in Mississippi, and let us take great pride in the accomplishments of our schools."

Power APAC provides training in music, dance, theater and visual arts for students in the 4th through 12th grades. During the ceremony this morning, Lauren White, a graduate of the school, performed a dance, and Hosea Griffith, a vocal student in the 11th grade, sang "Deep River." Kendarius Sterling, a 6th-grade vocal student, sang the national anthem.

Along with the national recognition for the Kennedy Center award, Power APAC will receive a $2,000 grant.

Starkville High School received the award for the 1998-1999 school year.

Previous Comments

ID

165290

Comment

Im a Power APAC alumnus and this is great for one of my favorite schools. I wonder if Ms Polanski still teaches piano.

Author

RobbieR

Date

2011-10-28T17:31:02-06:00

ID

165291

Comment

I'm pretty sure she played the piano during one of the performances this morning, actually. :)

Author

lizwaibel

Date

2011-10-28T22:13:29-06:00