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Arts Commission News

Sacred Heart High School Student Makes Special Presentation at the Mississippi State Capitol

DATE:          March 31, 2009 

CONTACT:    Susan Dobbs, MAC Public Relations Director

601/359-6031, sdobbs@arts.state.ms.us

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

JACKSON - Michelle Hooks, a ninth grader at Sacred Heart High School in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, traveled to Jackson on March 24, 2009 to present Speaker of the House of Representatives, Billy McCoy of Rienzi, Mississippi, with a special gift - the Great Seal of Mississippi!          

Last summer, schools attending the Mississippi Arts Commission's Whole Schools Initiative's Summer Institute, were presented with 10 poster-size copies of the Great Seal of Mississippi.  They were asked to research the seal and either embellish it into a collage, a bas relief, or completely redesign it following their own vision for this symbol of the state.  There were no restrictions on what materials could or could not be used, but students were encouraged not to just color the image.  Some approached the contest as a class project, some with individual students.          

Michelle's entry was chosen as one of the top three submissions, and she was invited to attend the Mississippi Arts Commission's Day at the Capitol to present her entry to Speaker McCoy.             The Mississippi Arts Commission (MAC) is a state agency, funded by the Mississippi Legislature, the National Endowment for the Arts, The Wallace Foundation, Donna & Jim Barksdale, The Phil Hardin Foundation, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation, the Mississippi Endowment for the Arts at the Community Foundation of Greater Jackson and other private sources.  MAC is the official grants-making and service agency for the arts in Mississippi. The agency serves as an active supporter and promoter of arts in community life and in arts education.  

Pictured from left:  Sacred Heart art teacher, Susan Stevens, MAC Board member, David Trigiani of Jackson, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Billy McCoy, Michelle Hooks, and MAC Board Chairman, Robert St. John of Hattiesburg.

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