Shoreline Arts Alliance Celebrates 2026 Scholarship Winners at Celebration of the Arts

Shoreline Arts Alliance recognized 22 emerging artists at its 5^th annual Celebration of the Arts on June 25, at Scranton Library in Madison. Over $8,000 in scholarships were awarded to students from SAA’s 24 town region in Creative Writing, Dance, Instrumental Music, Musical Theatre, Painting, Theatre, Visual Art and Vocal Music.

The winners competed against talented peers for various scholarships, performing or presenting their portfolios and interviewing with professionals in their respective arts fields.

Shoreline Arts Alliance is proud to announce this year’s Scholarship Winners:

Creative Writing:

Kellyn Kolber, Valley Regional High School – Special Recognition

Dance:

Thomas Kelly, Lyme-Old Lyme High School - First Place Winner

Olivia Galli, Branford High School – Second Place Winner

Director’s Choice Awards

Sydney Liggett, Valley Regional High School - Special Recognition as Performer/Playwright

Rowan Simonelli, Haddam-Killingworth High School - Special Recognition as Performer/Playwright

Oz Ferris, Guilford High School - Special Recognition in Ceramics

Emma Rose Frisbie, East Lyme High School - Special Recognition in Painting

Sasha Ribeiro, Middletown High School - Special Recognition in Visual Art

Instrumental Music:

Dylan Lai, Guilford High School - First Place Winner

Jonah Morrissey, Valley Regional High School – Second Place Winner

Jeffrey Dobbs Scholarship for Excellence in Painting:

Sonya Xaypanya, Valley Regional High School

Theatre/Musical Theatre:

Cameron D’Ettore, East Lyme High School – First Place Winner, Richard S. Dart Memorial Arts Scholarship

Kajsia Wright, Valley Regional High School - Second Place Winner​​

Visual Arts:

 Stacia Comen, Branford High School - First Place Winner

Vocal Music:

Kajsia Wright, Valley Regional High School – First Place Winner

Scholarship Recipients (L to R) Front Row: Cameron D’Ettore, Stacia Comen, Rowan Simonelli, Kajsia Wright, Kellyn Kolber Back Row: Olivia Galli, Sasha Ribeiro, Sydney Liggett, Oz Ferris, Jonah Morrissey, Emma Rose Frisbie

​For more information about the Scholarships in the Arts program or to make a scholarship donation, visit Shoreline Arts Alliance’s website, www.shorelinearts.org