Students will have the opportunity to bid on local and student artwork tonight as part of a fundraiser to help local high school students. The student organization, Focusing on College and Unlimited Success, is hosting a silent auction called “Art Serving Art” and will display different works from students and local artists. The auction will display more than 150 art pieces from many platforms, including sculptures, pottery, paintings and photos. The auction will be held on the fourth floor terrace at the Shaw Center for the Arts tonight from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Proceeds from the auction will go toward a summer program hosted by FOCUS for local high school students. The two-week program will help students from under-resourced high schools “live like college students.” The program costs about $500 per student, and FOCUS depends on donations and fundraisers because the high school students are not required to pay anything. Nicole Hanney, communication disorders and psychology sophomore, works as the director of finance and fundraising for FOCUS.
Hanney said the program involves high school students in a college immersion program. “They eat in the dining halls, sleep in the dorms and also have a set schedule of classes every day,” Hanney said. “The students choose one of the arts and humanities courses that they’re most interested in as their ‘focus,’ which is the equivalent to their major.” FOCUS offers different arts and humanities courses for the students such as dance, philosophy, music, theater, creative writing, art and science. Hanney said the students are also given the opportunity to meet with deans from different colleges. “A lot of them have gone through more than I will in my lifetime,” Hanney said. “I want them to know it is possible to go to college.” This summer will be the fourth year FOCUS is hosting this program. “If [people] could come out and support us, we’re really trying to reach out to the community,” Hanney said.
—-Contact J.J. Alcantara at [email protected]