What's New at BHSA

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE GRADUATING CLASS OF 2007 
from your friends at 101.1 JACK-FM!


BHSA SPRING SEMESTER HIGHLIGHTS

It’s been an exciting, exceptionally busy and very productive spring semester at Brooklyn High School of the Arts (BHSA) with lots of activities culminating with the school’s 7th Annual Commencement Exercises on June 23rd at 10:00 a.m. in the auditorium of Brooklyn Technical High School (29 Ft. Greene Place, Brooklyn).  This year’s BHSA seniors have done very well for themselves with lots of college acceptances, financial aid, independent scholarships and corporate and community awards of special recognition.

Just a Few Very Special Notes About BHSA’s Class Of 2007 Include:

• Approximately 10% of BHSA’s graduating seniors are leaving high school with a 4.0 average.
• Approximately 10% of BHSA’s seniors received 100% tuition scholarships (for all four years) from their 1st choice colleges. Congratulations to the students in this category --
  Agne Jomantiate (Fine Arts) – Occidental University, Los Angeles
Krystal Lewis (Art History) – Pratt Institute, Brooklyn
Katherine Matos (Art Education) – Pratt Institute, Brooklyn
Alex Joseph (Photography) – Pratt Institute, Brooklyn
Luis Baez (Art & Design) – Parsons Institute, N.Y.C.
Pamela Almonte-Lopez  (Art & Graphic Design) – Pratt Institute, Brooklyn
Tiffany Lebron (Liberal Arts) – Cazenovia College, Cazenovia, NY
Charisma McMillian (Liberal Arts) – Brooklyn College, Brooklyn
Andrew Rosario (Liberal Arts) – College of Staten Island, Staten Island
Robert Antioco (Liberal Arts) – Medgar Evers College, Brooklyn
• Corporate scholarships from Verizon, Lotto Leaders of Tomorrow, Ronald McDonald Charities House, Los Padres Scholarship Fund and Magic Johnson Scholarship Fund went to Katherine Matos, Courtney James, Whitney Martinez, and Leonardo Cunalata, respectively.  Five additional seniors received NYS Regents Scholarships.
• Over 85% of BHSA’s graduating seniors have already been accepted to colleges for this September.

Some Special Activities That Transpired At, And Recognitions Bestowed Upon, BHSA During This Spring Semester Include:

• Art awards and scholarships – so many that it’s impossible to list them all, but senior Katherine Matos was the recipient of the 2007 Mark Rothko Scholarship in Memory of Gustav Harrow for Excellence in Art; and the three Art students chosen to be a part of The Student Art Program’s Spring Exhibitions, “Inspiration and Observations.”  Were Arielle Hall, Gregory St. Val and Ebonie Penado.   Each received gift certificates to Pearl Paint in addition to having their works on display.
• For the third year in a row BHSA’s Concert Band, under the direction of Mr. John Scandone, received the New York State School Music Association’s (NYSSMA’s) Gold Award at the May 19, 2007 ‘Major Organization Evaluation Festival’.
• BHSA’s Orchestra (strings), directed by Mr. James Duncan, participated in the Orchestra of St. Luke’s (OSL’s) ‘Young Composers Project’.  Working with composer and recording artist Bernard Roumain to create their own compositions the five students, from all grades, played their original works with the OSL at a concert at BHSA on June 5th and will perform them again, with OSL, at the Chelsea Museum in Manhattan on June 12th.
• The word-renowned Apollo Theatre saw its share of BHSA this year between appearances by the school’s instrumental ensembles and one of the school’s vocal bands, “SideTrack”.
• The Working Playground, Inc. – an outside after school program that operated out of BHSA this semester – produced an outstanding logo to be used for their ‘Master It’ classes and then by BHSA for special promotions.  Under the direction of designer Douglas Riccardi (founder of Memo NY) BHSA students collectively designed a composite photo image to represent this Master Class.

• Region 8’s ‘Brooklyn Family Arts Festival’, held at BHSA on May 12th was met with an unprecedented community audience that enjoyed this year’s dance, poetry, theatre, art exhibits, music and just plain fun.
• Each year talented BHSA musical students perform with the All-City High School Concert Band and Chorus.  Just a few of the students involved in these programs this spring were Amber Vinson, Hadiisha Butts, Shinnelle Jackson and Shakida Hercules.
• Full scholarships to the Teachers College Columbia University Music Improv Camp 2007, for their July 23-27 course, have been given to four talented BHSA string students: John Shirelle, Crystal Chavan, Adrian Bueno, and Thomas Renee.  The award was presented by the American Society of Copmposers, Arrangers and Publishers (ASCAP).
• Based on a demonstration of leadership and citizenship, a desire to learn about diverse cultures and to venture into the world in the name of peace, friendship and understanding, BHSA Freshman, Kyesha Reynolds-Betegon has been accepted into the People to People Student Ambassador Class of 2007.  Through this program she will experience the excitement of travel, the advantage of studying in another part of the world and the joy of cultural discovery.
• BHSA’s most recent ‘Staff Appreciation Awards’ went to School Aides Noel Barreto and James Moore for April & May, respectively.  Both gentlemen carry their job responsibilities “above and beyond the cause of duty”.  These awards are made possible, monthly, through the generosity of 101.1FM JACK Radio, BHSA’s ‘School Partner’. JACK’s involvement with the school is very much appreciated by both the school’s administration and the outstanding staff members who are singled out for their exceptional involvement in the school community.
• And finally … on May 31st, at a Principal’s Soiree sponsored by the Council of Supervisors & Administrators (CSA), BHSA Principal Robert W. Finley III was honored for “Outstanding Achievement” and “Dedication to the Children of New York City”.