Woodlawn Arts Academy recognized

STERLING – The Woodlawn Arts Academy is being recognized for its work promoting arts education.

The academy, which provides music, art, theater and dance classes, is receiving an Illinois Alliance for Arts Education’s Public and Community Service Award.

The alliance raises public awareness about the importance of arts education. It also helps arts educators “develop the leadership skills to be able to articulate what the arts are about and the value of the arts in the education of young people,” according to its website, illinoisalliance4artsed.org.

The academy is “beyond thrilled” to receive the award, Executive Director Christy Zepezauer, said in a news release. “What an honor to be recognized and acknowledged for our outstanding contributions and dedication to the arts.”

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Woodlawn will send four staff members to the awards reception March 15 at the executive mansion in Springfield. Becky Ryerson, program coordinator at Woodlawn, will be one.

Awards will be given in the categories of arts, arts educator, Illinois Alliance for Arts Education organization, industry, public community service, school administration, schools of distinction and arts exemplar.
In 2011, Woodlawn Arts Academy instructor Mari Jo Schuneman was recognized in the arts exemplar category.

The academy offers private music lessons, “where we have every single instrument you can imagine,” Ryerson said, visual arts classes on painting, ceramics, hot glass, drawing, children’s art and crafts, and theater and dance classes.

About 70 percent of academy students are from Whiteside County, primarily Sterling; 10 percent to 15 percent are from Lee County and the rest from Carroll County, she said.

About the academy

More than 2,300 community members registered for an arts program at Woodlawn Arts Academy, 3807 Woodlawn Road, in 2011, while more than 5,300 community members attended music, theater, art, and dance recitals, receptions, concerts, and musicals.

Through community partnerships, art and music instruction was provided to more than 400 students in the 2010-2011 school year.

Outreach programs are offered to Challand Middle School, Rock Falls Middle School, Nelson Elementary School, St. Mary Catholic School in Sterling, St. Andrew Catholic School in Rock Falls, St. Anne Catholic School in Dixon and Newman Central Catholic and Sterling high schools.