Six aspiring artists from Cranston were the recipients of the Providence Performing Arts Center’s (PPAC) ARTS Scholarships 2022 program. Members of PPAC’s Community Outreach Committee announced all 47 recipients who will each receive a scholarship of up to $500 so they can attend a local arts education program this summer.

Cranston recipients include Aanvi Aggarwal of Western Hills Middle School, Sammie Lin of Western Hills Middle School, Unity MacNeill of Hope Highlands Middle School, Rebecca Puii of Western Hills Middle School, Zoe Teixeira of Western Hills Middle School and Brenna Zolli of Western Hills Middle School.

The ARTS Scholarships 2022 awards will be presented during a special ceremony on June 7 for recipients and invited guests at PPAC, and PPAC Board Chairman Joseph W. Walsh, Esq. will present the ARTS Scholarships 2022 awards.

“On behalf of myself and the Community Outreach Committee, I’d like to congratulate the class of ARTS Scholarships 2022 recipients and thank their families, teachers and sponsors for supporting their artistic dreams! This summer, recipients will attend programs like Next Stop BROADWAY® at PPAC, ¡City Arts!, RISE Camp at Moses Brown School, Blue Door Studio and much more. Middle school is a critical time for students in developing their individuality and self-confidence; the ARTS Scholarships program provides students with the opportunity to grow as artists and as individuals,” said Ricky Gresh, Director of Special Projects/Assistant to the President at PPAC.

In 1996, with a portion of the proceeds from the First Annual Greater Providence Gospel Fest (a production of the Providence Performing Arts Center), the PPAC Marketing Department, working in partnership with the PPAC Board’s Community Outreach Committee, created the ARTS Scholarships program. The ARTS Scholarships committee is comprised of PPAC Directors, Rhode Island educators, artists and community leaders with an interest in the arts for young people; the Committee reviews each application and selects scholarship recipients.

“When this program was founded in 1996, we never imagined that ARTS Scholarships would be awarded to 787 students! Everyone at PPAC feels tremendous pride in providing middle school students with the opportunity to pursue their interests and develop their talents in a discipline of their choice via summer arts education programs based right here in Rhode Island. Kudos to the students and their families, we hope this experience will help you follow your dreams,” said P.J. Prokop, Director of Marketing at PPAC.

Seven scholarships in memoriam will be awarded to students who exuded a love for theatre performance, music, and dance in their applications. One student will receive the Jo-Ann Ragosta Scholarship, given in memory of PPAC Board Director and ARTS Scholarships Committee Chairperson Jo-Ann Ragosta. Two students will each receive a Desiree Lee Mesolella Scholarship, given in memory of Desiree Lee Mesolella, an accomplished artist in fashion and photography.

Two students will each receive an Andrew DePietro Scholarship, given in memory of Andrew DePietro, a young man who loved music, especially percussion. One student will receive the Keri Anne O’Donnell Scholarship, given in memory of Keri Anne O’Donnell, who was passionate about choreography and musical theatre. A second Keri Anne O’Donnell Scholarship will be awarded in memory of Nick Cardi, a supporter of the arts.