 THE AETNA FOUNDATION AWARDS THE VISUAL ARTS PROGRAM AT NWSA $10,000 FOR ITS COLLEGE HONORS PROGRAMNWSA received a $10,000 grant from the Aetna Foundation to offer ten NWSA visual arts college students the opportunity to participate in the Visual Arts Honors Program. NWSA-VAHP aims to provide these carefully selected students the opportunity for intellectual development in a unique setting, through individualized attention, academic challenge and travel opportunity capable of stimulating their artistic and intellectual growth.
Nohemi Lopez-Alarcón, Aetna Regional Director of Community Relations, presented the generous contribution to NWSA during the school's Executive Board meeting on Thursday, November 19, 2009. "At Aetna we strive to serve the communities where our partners live and work and by supporting the NWSA in this extraordinary effort, we are honoring that commitment," declared Lopez-Alarcon, "these students deserve the opportunity and the privilege to be part of this honors program taught by the remarkable artists/professors of this outstanding arts institution."
"The Visual Arts Honors Program is a relatively new initiative at NWSA. It was conceived and offered for the first time last year and the outcomes were extremely rewarding for the juniors and seniors who participated" confirmed Maggy Cuesta, Dean of Visual Arts at NWSA. "This year however, we were on the verge of canceling it due to the dire economic situation our school is facing. The Aetna Foundation understands the value of this initiative, not only for the students involved, but for the school as a whole. Their support is invaluable and is a true testament of their commitment to the cultural advancement of our community."
 Lead by Fredric Snitzer, one of Miami's most cutting edge gallery owners and NWSA faculty member, NWSA Visual Arts Honors Program is an intensive nine-month program modeled on the centuries-old tutorial systems at Oxford and Cambridge Universities. Instruction is undertaken through dialogue rather than lectures. Key features of the program are: faculty and tutors working with a very small group of dedicated and accomplished students; an emphasis on independent learning; students entering into a dialogue with peers and teachers; a demanding program of study and intellectual discourse.
"The objective of NWSA - VA HP is to enable students to augment their educational and artistic experience by interacting with leading artists, gallerists, museum curators and directors, and other influential people in the arts. Incorporating a travel experience to a global arts exhibition such as the Venice Biennale in June 2010, will provide for the student, current worldwide contemporary movement in the arts, not as accessible in our community. As these students graduate and chose to pursue their areas of concentration, they will have a more profound knowledge of the arts, the business of art and contemporaries in their field. Thus, they will be better prepared to assume an active and leading role in the arts in our community and around the globe," concluded Cuesta.
The Aetna Foundation is the independent charitable and philanthropic arm of Aetna Inc. Founded in 1972, the Foundation helps build healthy communities by promoting volunteerism, forming partnerships and funding initiatives that improve the quality of life where our employees and customers live and work. The Aetna Foundation is committed to improve the lives of Miami-Dade residents by working and investing volunteer and financial resources on local organizations.
Photo: Aramis O'Reilly, NWSA-visual arts faculty; Jeffrey Hodgson, NWSA-Interim Provost; Nohemi Lopez-Alarcon, Aetna Regional Director of Community Relations; Dennis Edwards, Chair-NWSA Foundation Board; Monty Trainer, Chair-NWSA Executive Board.
Inset photo: Nohemi Lopez-Alarcon joins NWSA college visual artists Felipe Lagos, Cynthia Cruz, and Jose Felix Perez during NWSA's annual Thanksgiving luncheon.
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AWARDS AND ACCOLADES FOR NWSA MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS INITIATIVES
NWSA was among the top winners of the prestigious NCMPR Medallion Awards this year, receiving numerous recognition for its outstanding communications initiatives. An unprecedented accomplishment, NWSA received two Gold Medallions, one Silver Medallion, and one Bronze Medallion Awards in the categories of College Promotional Video, Promotion Campaign for a Special Event, Online Newsletter, and Viewbook respectively. The NCMPR Medallion Awards recognize outstanding achievement in communications at community and technical colleges. It's the only regional competition of its kind that honors excellence exclusively among marketing and PR professionals.
 "Having the school win these awards is a humbling accolade and it speaks volumes to what we have achieved thus far in conveying our message of artistic excellence."
The 2009 Communicator of the Year was also announced during the NCMPR annual district conference. The honor was bestowed upon Maria M. Flores, Director of Marketing and Communications for New World School of the Arts, who has led the marketing efforts at NWSA for the past three years. The Communicator of the Year Award is one of the most important recognition given by NCMPR and is awarded annually in each of NCMPR's seven districts. It acknowledges superior efforts and benchmarked results made in marketing, public relations or communications.
Photo: NWSA College Promotional Video - winner of a Gold Medallion Award. Music and lyrics by Jencarlos Canela [NWSA alum 2006]. Video directed and produced by All Write Inc.
Inset photo: NWSA-Interim Provost, Jeffrey Hodgson; Maria M. Flores, NWSA-Director of Marketing and Communications; Terri Giltner, NCMPR-System Director Marketing and Communications.
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THANK YOU, NEW WORLD SCHOOL OF THE ARTS SUPPORTERS
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ABOUT NWSA
2008-2009 NEWSLETTER
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KEY88, A FUNDRAISING INITIATIVE
Committed to ongoing excellence in education, NWSA has developed Key88, a multi-million dollar fundraising initiative. NWSA needs your financial support to ensure that all students receive the best educational experience possible. Join this worthy effort today.
More information at
305-237-3753
Listing of KEY88 Members at KEY 88
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THREE GREAT PARTNERS. ONE GREAT CONSERVATORY
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.
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