Shown is Northwest Alabama Arts council president Tyna Pyburn and
2010 Reflections of the South scholarship winner Eric Robbins.

Eric Robbins, a 2010 senior at Hamilton High School, was selected by the Northwest Alabama Arts Council to receive a $500 scholarship to pursue his education in the field of media arts.  The 2009-2010 academic year marks the arts council’s creation and implementation of its “Reflections of the South” scholarship program.

Arts council president Tyna Pyburn presented the scholarship to Robbins at the Hamilton High School Awards Day on Tuesday, May 18.  She stated, “This was a logical next step for the arts council in promoting the arts and art education in Marion County.  The success of the Jerry Brown Arts Festival over the past two years and the increased corporate and community support has allowed us create this scholarship program.  We are excited about the opportunities it will present to the seniors to have an arts-related scholarship available in the county.  We have many students who receive academic and athletic scholarships, but there is a group of students who are interested in the arts and who will excel in the arts given the opportunity.”

Robbins has been a participating student artist at the 2009 and 2010 Jerry Brown Arts Festivals, winning recognition for his works in the arts council’s “Sketching the Future” program.  Robbins says by receiving the Reflections of the South scholarship, he hopes to be able to take his art to new levels, and “make something that resonates with people, something that makes them think and provokes a genuine emotional response.” 

In addition to sketching and drawing, Robbins also enjoys painting, poetry, and playing the piano.  Robbins will be attending Bevill State Community College – Hamilton Campus this fall.  He is the son of Angie and Danny Robbins.

Hamilton – Northwest Alabama Arts Council president Tyna Pyburn today announced the creation of a scholarship for Marion County and Winfield public high school seniors.  The $500 “Reflections of the South” Art Scholarship will be awarded to a senior who has been engaged in the study of visual arts in high school and who intends to continue art studies in college with a goal of having a career in the arts. 

 Art forms include painting, sculpture, photography, graphic design, architecture, arts education, or art museum work.  The scholarship funds will be provided for the purchase of art supplies.

 Applications were sent to guidance counselors at Brilliant, Hackleburg, Hamilton, Marion County, Phillips, and Winfield high schools.  Applications are also available online at the arts council’s website, www.NorthwestAlabamaArts.org.

 Pyburn stated, “This was a logical next step for the arts council in promoting the arts and art education in Marion County.  The success of the Jerry Brown Arts Festival over the past two years and the increased corporate and community support has allowed us create this scholarship program.  We are excited about the opportunities it will present to the seniors to have an arts-related scholarship available in the county.  We have many students who receive academic and athletic scholarships, but there is a group of students who are interested in the arts and who will excel in the arts given the opportunity.  We hope we can eventually do more, moneywise, but we feel this is a good starting place.”

 Applications must be received by April 30 for consideration by the arts council panel.  Announcement of the scholarship winner will take place at the winning student’s senior awards day ceremony.

 For additional information, call Pyburn at (205) 544-1413.