School for the Arts students honored by school board

The Woodford County Board of Education honored four Woodford County High School seniors for their participation in the Governor's School for the Arts (GSA) this summer. WCHS seniors Emily DeBold and Sam Nagel were unable to attend Monday's board meeting, but Makenna Henehan and Sam Smarr shared some of their GSA experiences with board members. Makenna, who studied drama for three weeks, acknowledged that GSA was an intense learning experience with late-nights spent studying scripts. "But it was also a lot of fun," she added. "It really prepared me for college. It made me realize I don't really want that conservatory-type feel of arts. I would rather take it slower." Her future plans now include attending a four-year in-state school, where she can earn a bachelor's degree in theatre. "And then go onto get my master's in arts administration," Makenna said. With a discipline of visual arts at GSA, Sam Smarr said he was asked to prepare a portfolio "to show off what you can do." Painting, print making and ceramics were visual arts explored at GSA. "I really liked the ceramics part (of my experience)," said Sam, "...(but) I'm actually a metal sculptor." He nurtured this skill in welding classes at technical school before ever going to GSA. His visual arts experiences at GSA did, however, expose Sam to the newest techniques in visual arts, he said. The WCHS senior hopes to pursue a business degree at the University of Kentucky, which also has "a really good" metal sculpting program, where he can continue to hone those skills. The Governor's School for the Arts has guided over 200 of Kentucky's finest artists through three weeks of intense arts instruction every summer for the past 29 years. The high school students take classes in architecture, creative writing, dance, drama, instrumental music, musical theatre, new media, visual art and vocal music.