6/16/2011      Young Artists Awards Reception Held at YAM
City-Wide Students are Honored & Receive Cash Awards!

Soroptimist International of Billings is pleased to announce this year's 2011 recipients of their YOUNG ARTISTS AWARD PROGRAM. Judging was done by Artist in Residence Brian Keith Scott.  Museum Co-Ordination was done by Linda Ewert, Education Director at YAM and over-saw the display of the Young Artists’ Show.  This year’s event commemorated the ninth year of the Young Artists’ Gallery at the Yellowstone Art Museum and the 15th year of the YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAM.

Art teachers, from the Billings and surrounding area, are invited to submit pieces of student art, in any medium and theme, and the art winners are showcased at the Soroptimist charity fundraiser "A Night of Wine and Roses”. The upcoming event is scheduled for January 28, 2012, to be held at The Depot, and will be this event's 24th year!

This year marks the sixth time for the $1,000 Scholarship Award, based on the student's essay, was awarded. This year's winner is Samantha French.  Teacher's Award went to Stacia Courtney of Laurel High School. 

Young Artist Winners 2011
◘ Scholarship $1000.000
Samantha French "Foliage" medium: Clay
◘ Best of Show $500.000
Natalie Meyer "Moose" medium: Acrylic
◘ 1) $500.00
Selina Kuchera "untitled" medium: Mixed
◘ 2) $250.00
Nikita Durney "Celtic Pinch" medium: Stoneware
◘ 3)  $100.00
Ashley Rickman "Tribal" medium: Mixed
◘ Honorable Mention
Tawni Bonner "Good Day" medium: Watercolor & Pencil

 PRESS RELEASE: Soroptimist Awards Event 3/24/2011

Soroptimist of Billings Club awarded over $20,000.00 in scholarships and grants at their annual Awards Banquet March 24th. The club gave the Bright Eyes backpack program $10,452. raised from their annual Wines & Roses Fundraiser, raffle tickets sold throughout the year and the Herberger discount coupon books.

  The $500.00 Violet Richardson Scholarship is awarded to a outstanding community volunteer young woman between the ages of 14 and 17. This year’s recipient was Sally Weinand. Sally chose Faith Chapel’s Billings and Beyond program as the charity recipient.

The Women’s Opportunity Award is granted to a young woman who is the primary financial support of her family and is enrolled in or has been accepted to a vocational/skills training program or an undergraduate degree program.
This year Soroptimist of Billings awarded $1000.00 to Angela Stewart and $1500.00 to Angela Gardner. Both women are enrolled in local colleges and have achieved high academic achievements while raising their children

The Fellowship Award is granted to an applicant who holds a bachelors or masters degree from an accredited college or university and presents a plan of worthwhile post-graduate study leading to an advanced degree.  Tasha Houlihan received the $1000.00 Fellowship scholarship.

Billings Clinic and St. Vincent’s Cardiac Rehabilitation Programs both received a $250.00 grant for a woman in need.

Other charities that received financial awards from SIB were Family Tree, YAM Education program, Fran Elge Scholarship Fund, Soroptimist International Disaster Fund, Soroptimist Quadrennial Project, the Soroptimist International President’s annual appeal, $2600.00 in scholarships to young artists and $1000.00 to help a woman in need.

Soroptimist of Billing is now taking solicitations for 2011. Charities that specifically apply to the needs of women and children are encouraged to apply. Any woman who may qualify for any of the scholarship opportunities that SIB has to offer or is interested in joining Soroptimist is encourage to send a letter of interest to Soroptimist of Billings PO Box 2322, Billings , Montana 59103 or visit our website at www.sibillings.org.