Suzanne Anderson was a strong supporter of all the arts, but especially music, having served as president for many years of the Music Study Club and active in the Pocono Arts Council’s Youth in Music Excellence Awards. Upon her death in January, 2013, she included the Pocono Arts Council in her will to “establish a scholarship for a student majoring in the arts in college.“ At the 2017 Spring for the Arts Gala, PoconoArts honored Suzanne’s wishes by awarding two $500 scholarships to Kate Martin and Victoria Padmos for their continued studies.
Kate Martin is a senior from Pocono Mountain West High School who will attend Temple University to major in film in the fall. She aspires to be a filmmaker in the future. She has been active in the PMWHS Musical Theater Program and National Art Honor Society throughout High School. She recently accepted the Law Day Creativity Award from the Monroe County Bar Association for her short film “A Women’s Tale”. It is a wonderful look at the way the youth of today look at the role of women in society.
Victoria Padmos is a senior from Pocono Mountain East High School who will major in Music Therapy as a vocal major at Arizona State University next year. Victoria discovered music therapy in eighth grade while exploring majors and realized that it was a perfect fit – combining her love of music with wanting to help people. Her choice was solidified last summer when she worked with Music Therapist, Sheryl Mozdian, in a geriatric setting.
In addition to Music Therapy, Tori is currently enrolled in numerous extracurricular music activities, including, marching band, where she is the Drum Major, and the Tri-M Music Honor Society, serving as the first President of her chapter. She also takes five music courses, including one independent study, which will prepare her to be the first person at her school to take the AP Music Theory test.
Tori was accepted this past season to march with the East Stroudsburg University Marching Band as a member of the clarinet section and earned her Girl Scout Gold Award this past winter by being the 2016 Pocono Township Bi-Centennial Entertainment Coordinator.
Congratulations Kate & Victoria!