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Barbara Ingram School for the Arts Foundation

Art Education School Foundation | Hagerstown, MD

News

2025-2026 Foundation Grants Applications Now Available

The BISFA Foundation is proud to announce our 2025-2026 Student and Staff Grant Program.  We offer 2 separate grants for current BISFA Students.  The Pauline K Anderson Grant is a grant for students to gain access to funding to help pay for expenses that students may have such as field trips, equipment, supplies and college application fees.  The second student grant is the Hamilton Family Foundation Grant is a grant for students to gain access to funding to help pay for expenses that are associated with students auditioning for county and state competitions, summer intensives, and continuing education opportunities.

A Faculty Enrichment Grant is also available for each arts department to request funds for classroom enrichment opportunities. These enrichment requests can help fund programs and activities such as guest artists, master classes, performance opportunities and other enrichment programs that will greatly enhance the overall educational opportunities for the students of BISFA.

Please click on the GRANT PROGRAM ICON below to access the grant appliations and additional information.

Welcome Back to School!

Welcome back to school BISFA Students and Staff!  We are so excited to see all the amazing things you will do both on and off stage!!! Cheers to a wonderful year!

U.S. News Releases 2025-2026 Best High Schools Rankings

The Barbara Ingram School for the Arts has proudly secured the 9th position in the state and 488th nationally, earning Gold Medal status once again in U.S. News and World Report’s Best Public High Schools for 2025-2026.
Congratulations to the fantastic teachers, students, and support staff for this remarkable achievement!
Click on the link below to find out additional information on the rankings.

 

Press Release – New 2025 BISFA Foundation Board Members

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Ally Sirbaugh
Executive Director
Barbara Ingram School for the Arts Foundation
240-347-4934
allys@barbaraingramfoundation.org

Barbara Ingram School for the Arts Foundation Announces New Board Members

HAGERSTOWN, Maryland, July 15, 2025—Barbara Ingram School for the Arts (BISFA) Foundation announces a new slate of officers for 2025-2027: Laurie Bender, president; Pam Francis, vice president; Wanda Mounts, secretary and Al Martin, treasurer. The Foundation also welcomes five new board members, including Mia Collins, Karri Dawson, Cheyenne Herson, Brian McLucas and Ruth Ridenour.

Mia Collins is a veteran style expert, wardrobe and specialty stylist in the metro Washington, D.C. area whose clients include Vanity Fair, People, Baltimore Magazine, Washington Post, Target, NFL, Nordstrom, National Wildlife Catalog and more. For the past five years, Mia has transitioned to TV and film, working on projects, such as We Own This City (HBO) and Lady in the Lake (Apple TV+).

Karri Dawson is a seasoned people manager with over 20 years of experience in the big box retail space, specializing in coaching and training to drive profitability across multi-sales channels. She has volunteered throughout the county, including organizing a WCPS athletic program, a high school booster program and St. Maria Goretti’s admission process.

Cheyenne Herson is the development coordinator at Hagerstown Community College. She is a 2017 graduate of the Barbara Ingram School for the Arts, where she specialized in vocal music. She earned a BA in Arts and Entertainment Industries Management, with a minor in Event Planning, from Rider University in 2021.

Brian McLucas is a dedicated professional with over 20 years of experience in the lumber industry and currently serves as a dealer sales representative for Weyerhaeuser, managing 150 accounts in the Baltimore-DC metro area. Brian has served on the Hagerstown Colt League board for 15 years and the West End Little League board for three years.

Ruth Ridenour served as the lead theatre teacher for the Barbara Ingram School for the Arts from 2009 until her retirement in 2020. She also taught at Williamsport High School for 30 years as the choral, music and drama teacher. In addition, Ruth is past president of Potomac Playmakers, having acted, directed and costumed shows for over 40 years.

Leaving the Barbara Ingram Foundation Board after several years of dedicated service are Brittany Arizmendi, Barbara Fitzsimmons, Ken Grove, Steve Hummel, Dr. Teresa Roberts and Steve Swayne.

Current Barbara Ingram School for the Arts Board of Directors include Dr. Ann Laber Anders, Katie Anderson, Kelly Batey, Erika Bell, Laurie Bender, Anne Bertram, Al Martin, Denver Martin, Wanda Mounts, Gerry Otremba, Steve O’Farrell (past president), David Richardson, Ryan Smetzer, Shelly Strong, Toby Towson and Mia-Faire Williams. The Honorary Advisory Board Members are Mary Anne Burke, Katie Groh Fitzsimmons, Dr. Ira Lourie, Cynthia Perini, Mrs. Theron Rinehart, Elizabeth Schulze, Cliff Springer and Patricia Stine. The Ex Officio Board Members are Dr. April Zentmeyer, Dr. Robert Hovermale, Kristen Green and Dr. David Sovine.

“I am so excited to welcome these new board members to the Foundation, where they can contribute their talents, dedication and passion for the arts to the students and the school,” said Ally Sirbaugh, executive director of the Barbara Ingram Foundation. “I am sad to see so many devoted board members leaving this year as I have truly appreciated their contributions during my tenure. I look forward to working with a new team of officers and continuing to grow the Foundation, school and arts community.”

About Barbara Ingram School for the Arts Foundation Founded in 2008, the Barbara Ingram School for the Arts (BISFA) Foundation advances exceptional arts’ education by providing resources, connections and funding that support the Barbara Ingram School for the Arts public high school in Hagerstown, Maryland. Funds are provided for programs, such as master classes, artists in residency, student field trips and state-of-the-art instructional materials and technology. To learn more or take a tour of the school, call the Barbara Ingram School for the Arts Foundation at (240) 347-4934, or visit www.barbaraingramfoundation.org.

 

Pictured: Officers: Laurie Bender, president; Pam Francis, vice president; Wanda Mounts, secretary and Al Martin, treasurer.

 

Pictured:  New Board Members: Mia Collins, Karri Dawson, Cheyenne Herson, Brian McLucas and Ruth Ridenour.

Summer Intern Applications Now Available

The Foundation is now seeking Summer Arts Academy Student Interns for our 2025 Summer Arts Academy program.  Applications are available online here: Student Intern Application.  Please click on link provided and download the fillable PDF document.  Completed applications are due before or on Friday, May 23, 2025.  Applications can be dropped off to the school front office, emailed to Rachelt@barbaraingramfoundation.org or mailed into the Foundation Office at:

BISFA Foundation

38 S. Potomac Street, Suite 305

Hagerstown, MD  21742

Students may volunteer for more than one academy.  SSL hours will be tracked and students are responsible for filling out the SSL tracking sheet each week.  Foundation Staff will sign forms at the end of each week.

For more information please call the Foundation Office at 240-347-4934 or email Rachelt@barbaraingramfoundation.org.

“Once Upon a Mattress” Playbill Advertisement Space Now Available

Hear ye, hear ye! Advertising spots for parents are now open for the Barbara Ingram School for the Arts upcoming spring musical, “Once Upon a Mattress.” This is a great way for family and friends to wish students success and to ‘break a leg’. Placing an ad in the souvenir playbill, you can proudly showcase your graduating senior and celebrate their achievements.
Use the link below to reserve your ad space. The sign-up deadline is Wednesday, March 12, 2025.
Please reach out to the office at 240-347-4934 or email rachelt@barbaraingramfoundation.org for more information.

Once Upon a Mattress Spring Musical – Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Barbara Ingram School for the Arts Presents “Once Upon a Mattress”

Hagerstown, MD (February 19, 2025) – Barbara Ingram School for the Arts (BISFA) proudly announces
tickets are now on sale for their annual all-school musical production, Once Upon a Mattress.
Performances will take place at The Maryland Theatre on April 5th and 12th at 7:30 p.m., and April
6th and 13th at 2:30 p.m.

This regally hilarious adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Princess and the Pea promises to
entertain audiences of all ages. Adults will delight in the classic slapstick comedy, while
children will be captivated by the whimsical characters, elaborate fairytale costumes, and stunning
set design handcrafted by the BISFA theater department.

Once Upon a Mattress premiered off-Broadway in 1959, launching the career of Carol Burnett.
Following in Burnett’s shoes as the unlikely future princess will be Fae Ward. Ward most recently
graced The Maryland Theatre’s stage as Pugsley Addams in last year’s The Addams Family Musical. Her
counterpart, Prince Dauntless, will be played by Nathan Lushbaugh, who audiences will remember as
the title character in 2023’s The SpongeBob Musical and as the uptight future father-in-law to
Wednesday Addams, Mal Beineke, in The Addams Family Musical.

This year’s production marks BISFA’s 14th all-school musical since the school opened in 2009,
following previous successes like The Wizard of Oz, Shrek, The Little Mermaid, and last year’s The
Addams Family Musical. This production coincides with a recent Broadway revival starring Sutton
Foster, Michael Urie, and Ana Gasteyer. A cast recording of the revival is scheduled for release on
March 28, 2025, just one week before BISFA’s opening night.

Tickets for Once Upon a Mattress range from $10 to $30 and can be purchased online at
https://www.mdtheatre.org/once-upon-a-mattress or by calling 301-790-2000.

About Barbara Ingram School for the Arts

The Barbara Ingram School for the Arts is a Five-Star, public high school in Hagerstown, Maryland,
providing 350 students with a rigorous, comprehensive, college preparatory curriculum rooted in
intense, pre-professional training in the arts. The school produces approximately 50 recitals and
performances each year, spanning vocal, instrumental, creative writing, photography, visual arts,
computer game design, and dance. The annual musical is a highly anticipated event, open to
auditions from the entire student body.
Contact:
Rob Hovermale, Principal Hoverrob@wcps.k12.md.us 301-766-8845
Ally Sirbaugh, BISFA Foundation Executive Director allys@barbaraingramfoundation.org
240-347-4934

Summer Arts Academy 2025

We are thrilled to announce the return of our Summer Arts Academy Programs this year! Our programs are open to all interested students in grades 5 to 12 (depending on the specific academy). Residency in Washington County is not required to participate, and we warmly welcome students from private and parochial schools as well. These academies are designed to provide students and their families with a sneak peek into the discipline programs offered at the Barbara Ingram School for the Arts while enhancing their skills with our exceptional faculty.

Stay tuned for exciting new academy offerings, detailed descriptions, instructor biographies, and further information.

Limited scholarships will be available, with online applications accepted from February 24, 2025, to May 2, 2025.

Information will be available beginning Monday, February 17, 2025 and online registration opens Monday February 24, 2025.

For more information or inquiries, please reach out to our office at 240-347-4934 or email RachelT@barbaraingramfoundation.org.

Visit us at: https://barbaraingramfoundation.org/summer-arts-academy/

https://barbaraingramfoundation.org/summer-arts-academy/

2024-2025 Supporting the Arts Business Sponsorships

Engage with your community in supporting the arts while enhancing your company’s visibility. Over 12,000 All-School Musical program books are printed and distributed, and more than 6,000 tickets are sold for the sixty-plus BISFA student performances held throughout the year.

Benefits of participation include: Acknowledgment as a BISFA supporter, Valuable exposure through BISFA promotional materials, the foundation’s website, and at BISFA events, and the rewarding feeling of contributing to the arts and playing a part in educating future artists.

All sponsorships have a direct effect on students across EVERY Artistic Discipline at the Barbara Ingram School for the Arts! The Sponsorship Program provides essential funding for both students and departmental grants. These funds support field trips, equipment, clothing, and supplies necessary for students to successfully complete their projects, participate in master classes with guest artists in residence, and much more!

Business sponsors have the flexibility to create their own giving opportunity by chosing what sponsorship package or by specifying a dollar amount that aligns with their budget. Payment plans are also available.

We still have a few sponsorship spaces available. For additional information or to support the arts visit: https://barbaraingramfoundation.org/supporting-the-arts…/ or call the office at 240-347-4934.

Thank you to our current Supporting the Arts Business Sponsors. We appreciate your continued support! Stay tuned to learn a little more about these businesses over the next few weeks!

 

Support the Foundation

Your support directly impacts the daily success of BISFA students and the opportunities are as unique and diverse as they are! From program sponsorship to seasonal lamp posts and other campaigns, you are sure to find the perfect fit for your budget.

Make a difference..donate today!