Orlando Mendoza, VP Strategic Development (Miami) Aetna Insurance; Mercedes Quiroga, NWSA Provost; Nohemi Lopez, Southeast Regional Director Aetna Insurance; John Schmitz, NWSA Executive Board Chair; Abbey Chase, NWSA Foundation Board Chair; Frederic Conde, NWSA High School Principal.

New World School of the Arts will once again have the opportunity to run its summer arts program thanks to a generous contribution from the Aetna Foundation. With the $30,000 grant, NWSA will offer South Florida high school students (11th and 12th graders) the opportunity to attend New World School of the Arts during a two-week SUMMER ARTS ACADEMY program from June 9 through June 20, 2008.

Stated Nohemi Alarcon, Southeast Regional Director for Aetna , "We strongly believe that corporations have an obligation to their communities; Miami-Dade is a very important city for Aetna and our commitment with it is a serious one. That is why we have opened a new local office in Miami and are partnering with respectful institutions such as the New World School of the Arts. NWSA's mission coincides with Aetna's - to support the arts and education."

"This is the first time the Aetna Foundation partners with NWSA and we are thrilled! These funds will enable us to expand this very exciting and unique arts program which includes a varied and novel syllabus aimed at preparing students for upcoming college auditions and portfolio preparation. Thanks to the generosity of the Aetna Foundation we will be able to offer an additional fifty scholarships to talented at- risk youth from low-income families who otherwise would not be able to afford this unique opportunity. Enrollment in the 2007 Summer Arts Academy was 43 students, from which 37 were funded by scholarships. This year we hope to have over 100 students attending the program," concluded Lourdes Werner, Director of Student Services at NWSA.

The cost of the NWSA two-week Summer Arts Academy is $600 and includes all arts materials, lessons and activities; however, the scholarship students will participate completely free of charge. Lunch and snacks will be provided and each student will receive a bus pass and/or Metrorail pass and/or free parking to facilitate transportation to and from NWSA. Also included are cultural enrichment field trips to such venues as the Miami Art Museum and the Performing Arts Center.

The program provides for a low student to teacher ratio to assure personalized instruction by professional artists / faculty, resulting in high artistic quality instruction and experience. The program will culminate in a free student showcase performance by all of the Summer Arts Acadely participants.

For more information about the Summer Arts Academy at NWSA, please call Lourdes Werner at 305- 237-3472 or email at lourdes.werner@mdc.edu.

New World School of the Arts was created by the Florida Legislature as a Center of Excellence in the visual and the performing arts. An educational partnership of Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Miami Dade College and the University of Florida.