Yankton Area Arts recently presented its 2009 J. Laiten Weed Scholarships to two graduating Yankton High School seniors, Meghan Schuster and Reanna Schultz. These two students were selected from a group of wonderful candidates. Thank you to all the applicants we had — it made for a difficult decision this year!

Meghan Schuster has shown a strong commitment to Yankton High School with her participation in several school activities over the course of the past four years. To name just a few, Meghan has been a member of Yankton Community Band, Pep Band, Jazz Band and Wind Ensemble. In the fall, Meghan will attend Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa, where she will major in music education.

Reanna Schultz has actively participated in the Environmental Club and Yankton High School Orchestra. Reanna has displayed a strong sense of community with her volunteer services and efforts to keep the community beautiful through her memorial garden designs and recycling work. Schultz will be attending the University of South Dakota in Vermillion and plans to major in visual arts.

This scholarship was established in 1990 by the Yankton Area Arts. The scholarship is designed to encourage graduating Yankton High School seniors to continue to pursue their education in one of the art disciplines. The scholarship is an annual award of two $500 gifts granted to graduating seniors of Yankton High School. Yankton Area Arts is grateful we are able to help further the education of such gifted individuals!

J. Laiten Weed was one of the first professional string instrument instructors in South Dakota and was the director of the Yankton College Conservatory of Music. Weed was also instrumental in forming the South Dakota Honors Orchestra, which is still in existence today.

Yankton Area Arts is proud to say that Weed was one of the first members of our organization. Hats off to Meghan and Reanna for following in this wonderful tradition!

Although school is coming to a close, Yankton Area Arts will be continuing its educational efforts throughout the summer with our Lost Arts Series. On June 6, Kathie Gerstner will be sharing her expertise on porcelain dolls. Make sure to plan on attending at 1 p.m. at the G.A.R. Hall Art Gallery.

Finally, our neighboring arts community, the Vermillion Area Arts Council, has extended a reciprocal offer for all Yankton Area Arts members to receive a members-only rate on their children’s art camp this July. The brochure is online at YanktonAreaArts.org. Not a member yet? Stop in the office and fill out a membership card or go online and sign up on our Web site.

YAA Calendar of Events:

• through June 24 — “Intuitive Abstraction” exhibit featuring the work of John Anderson at the G.A.R. Hall Art Gallery. Free to the public

• May 23-24 — The Academy of Dance will present their spring recital “In The Beginning … Into The Future” at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on May 23 and 2 p.m. on May 24 in the Yankton High School/Summit Theater Tickets are available at the Academy of Dance and also at the door on the day of the show

• June 2 — Kids Art Fest: Yankton Area Arts will host the 18th annual Kid’s Art Fest, at Riverside Park, in conjunction with Yankton Chamber of Commerce’s Customer Appreciation Picnic, 4:30-7:30 p.m.

• June 2 — Summer Band concert, Riverside Park Amphitheater, featuring conductor Sheila Wipf, from Freeman High School, 8 p.m.

• June 6 — “Lost Arts: The Art of Porcelain Dolls” presented by Kathie Gerstner at the G.A.R. Hall Art Gallery, 1-2 p.m.

• June 14 — YAA Creative Tablescapes, 1-4 p.m. The 2009 theme centers on interesting and creative table settings, the fundraiser supports Yankton Area Arts. Tickets are $10 per person and are available at Yankton Area Arts, Hy Vee, Rexall Drug and Pied Piper Flower Shop.

Also, the G.A.R. Hall Art Gallery will be closed on Monday, May 25, for Memorial Day.

If you are interested finding other art activities in the area, please contact the office at 665-9754 or go to our Web site: www.YanktonAreaArts.org.

The G.A.R. Hall Gallery and Yankton Area Arts are located at 508 Douglas Avenue, Yankton. The gallery is open to the public free of charge from 1-5 p.m. weekdays and from 1-3 p.m. on Saturdays. For more information, contact Pam Meylor, YAA executive director, at (605) 665-9745 or Pam@YanktonAreaArts.org. For further information on events, please go to www.YanktonAreaArts.org.