Barbara Ingram School for the Arts Foundation
Art Education School Foundation | Hagerstown, MD
The Barbara Ingram Foundation just received a grant from the Washington County Arts Council for our Summer Arts Academy. Mimi Dickinson, Executive Director received the check from Mary Newby, chair of the grant committee for the Washington County Arts Council.
To the editor:
USA Today recently reported the news of a recent survey of high school students. The survey found that kids consistently reported negative feelings about their schools. And according to the researchers, those negative feelings can influence young people’s “attention, memory, decision making, school performance and social lives.”
Clearly we’re not doing a very good job of creating learning environments that foster happy, productive, motivated and, most importantly, successful kids. That all could change. Our small, mostly rural county has the chance to take a national stage, leading the nation in a unique vision for educating high school students and changing the way students view their schools and their futures.
The stage was set several years ago when a handful of forward-thinking people first conceived the idea of a boutique arts school in the heart of downtown Hagerstown. Since Barbara Ingram School for the Arts opened a few years ago, it’s attracted a national spotlight. In 2014 and 2015, it was recognized for academic excellence, garnering honors as one of best high schools in the nation.
The concept of educating children in small, specialty schools goes far beyond this downtown arts school. Small, highly focused schools give us an opportunity to engage children in their own education. It lets them have a voice in what they want to study and who they want to be. Research shows that smaller schools have higher morale, more extracurricular activities, and are easier and less expensive to govern. Most importantly, this format moves us away from large, industrial-sized high schools with the inherent problems of drug and alcohol use, bullying, gang violence, truancy, unplanned pregnancy and failure to graduate.
Small boutique schools are personal. Small classes mean lots of time with teachers. It’s hard to fall behind with that sort of attention. It’s hard not to excel. And that’s what makes them extraordinary.
I’m hoping the citizens of Washington County will recognize the opportunity what an academic hub of these schools would bring to our community. Education is the great equalizer. It puts our kids on the same footing as those from Montgomery or Fairfax counties. Most importantly, it is the only way to ensure a strong and inventive future economy. Investing in the kids of this county not only benefits those children and their families, it ensures that Washington County has a future as well.
The reality is the downtown Hagerstown economy is dying. And no amount of pop-up shops and “Wind Down Fridays” is going to change that. Frederick is successful because its economy draws on strong consumer support, which is based primarily in the Washington metro area. Put simply, Frederick patrons have the money to spend; Hagers-town and its outlying areas do not.
Washington County is not a wealthy region. It lacks Frederick’s resources. But what it does have is kids. And those kids have dreams. Let’s invest in the downtown academic hub so we can better foster those dreams and, in the process, realize some of our own.
Barbara Vann, Knoxville, Md.
Congratulations to the 2015 recipient of the Bill Dorsey Scholarship for Barbara Ingram School for the Arts was awarded today to Joshua Geblein, Senior vocal student. He will use these funds to pursue his music career.
The Black Box Chair Campaign began on September 1st with ten chairs being sponsored from 2009-now. Since the kick off of our campaign we have received the following as chair sponsors: Carrol and Ira Lourie, Susan Wood, William T. Alexander, Mr. Varner Paddack, Antietam Cable and Cho Benn Holback + Associates. Thank you. The Foundation is hosting a special event in the Black Box to highlight the campaign. A Fresh of Breath Air written and performed by Dale Stein. She will be performing on Tuesday, November 3 and Wednesday, November 4 at 7:00pm. Tickets are $25. Seating is limited. If you are interested contact the Foundation office at 240-347-4934.
The Barbara Ingram Foundation was awarded today their 2015 grant request from the Albert E. and Naomi B. Sinnisen Foundation. This grant request was for the Barbara Ingram Foundation to purchase a CRM (customer relations management) program called Charity Engine. This program will be a great tool for the foundation and the board. We want to thank the Sinnisen Foundation and their Board of Trustees for their continued support to the Barbara Ingram Foundation.
We are pleased to announce that the Maryland Symphony Orchestra Scholarships have been awarded. This year the Rock Band Orchestra Scholarship was awarded to Donna Nicole Hardaway and the Band Camp Scholarship was awarded to Abigail Pulver. Congratulations! We look forward to seeing you both in July.
Congratulations to Samantha Allen on receiving the Thomas L. Law, Summer Arts Academy, Visual Arts Camp Scholarship. This is the third year this scholarship has been awarded.
The Michael Raymer Dance and Piano Summer Arts Academy scholarships were awarded to Brenna Boland, Springfield Middle School and Fei Yan Collins, Smithburg Middle School. Congratulations to both students.
The tradition continues, by past Bisfa Foundation Board member, Rev. Ellie Doub. Every year Ellie creates a themed quilt that represent the All School Musical. This is her sixth quilt she has made and donated to the Foundation. The quilt is auctioned at the opening night reception held by the Foundation. For the past couple years, Brendan Fitzsimmons has been the top bidder and has given them back to the school to put on display.
The Shrek quilt is hanging on display in the Gallery of the school. Please stop in and take a look. After taking a look at this years quilt, Brendan Fitzsimmons replied; WOW she outdid herself! 
PULL DOWN THE SHADES!
We are very excited to announce, that through a tremendously generous donation, the sculpture and drawing studios now have electric shades for the skylights! No longer will students need to struggle to see the projected image in a light filled room! No longer will teachers need to climb to the roof and cover the skylight windows with a tarp! No longer will teachers need to stand on the tiptop of the tallest step latter to fit cardboard into the windows! Teachers simply push a button and the room becomes dark. It’s like magic!
This year we are pleased to announce that The Maryland Symphony Orchestra has two scholarship opportunities for students that want to attend the Barbara Ingram Summer Arts Academy. These two camp are for rising 6-9 grade students. This half day morning camp is offered for one week. If you are interested we encourage you to fill out an application. Visit the website under Art Camp.