Two Pomperaug High School Seniors Win Arts Awards

  Pomperaug High School (PHS) Seniors, Michael M. and Sarah P., won “Outstanding Arts Awards” at a banquet sponsored by the Connecticut Association of Schools and Westfield shopping centers.

 This year, the three Connecticut Westfield regional shopping centers – Connecticut Post, Meriden and Trumbull – celebrated their 12^th year as sponsors of the Connecticut Association of Schools’ Arts Awards Program.

 Mike M., 18, of Southbury has been involved in music since fifth grade and enjoys music composition and theatre as well. He will be attending the Boston Conservatory to study music, specifically the bassoon, in the fall.

Mike started his interest in music on the alto sax. In seventh grade his teacher handed him the bassoon and said "Here try this"; he took to it quite well. In eighth grade he wanted to audition for the National Honor Choir. He and another student were chosen for the intense four days in New York. Mike also wrote a piece of music called "Battlefield" that was chosen by All-State CMEA and was performed by West Conn at the All-State Festival.

 Making commonplace moments beautiful and meaningful is what brought Sarah P. of Southbury to Advanced Placement Studio Art.

 “In my art, I have been searching for the extraordinary within the ordinary--everyone has something to hide,” said Miss P.. “I am attracted to the mystery of things, their hidden, mystical side, and their veiled surfaces. So I paint the unseen. I paint to show that all secrets are worth keeping because they make everyday moments beautiful. I paint because all secrets need to be told through art's eyes.”

 The Connecticut High School Arts Awards honor annually two outstanding seniors from each of the member schools of the state who excel in the performing or visual arts. They must possess the qualities of scholarship and leadership. Excelling in the performing or visual arts is of primary importance in the selection. Scholarship and Leadership are also supporting criteria.

 The awards are presented in honor of Bruce Eagleson, Westfield’s former Regional Vice President of Management, who was one of the originators of the CAS Arts Awards Program, and an enthusiastic supporter of the Arts.