Asia Monroe (left) received a Discover the Talent Scholarship from Hope Academy to study 20thcentury music with composer Matt Gillespie, from Alia Musica. She composed and produced an original piece of electronic music and then, with her sister Brittany (right), choreographed a dance to the piece entitled “Sound the Alarm.” This work was videotaped for her CAPA High School Senior Project and a portion of it can be seen at www.YouTube.com/HopeAcademy. Asia was accepted into Penn State University (main campus) where she will be studying Political Science next year. On February 26, she attend the NEED 45th Annual Benefit Dinner, where she was awarded a $5,000 scholarship.

Blake Stadnik, former Hope Academy student, won first place for his monologue in the upper division of The Pittsburgh Public Theater’s Shakespeare Monologue and Scene Contest. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette said, “Taking top prize out of 11 finalists in the monologue division, grades 8-12, was Blake Stadnik from Lincoln Park Charter School, who used the king’s ‘St. Crispin’s Day’ speech from ‘Henry V’ to send us off to battle inspired with patriotic fervor.” Blake played lead roles in both “Once On This Island” and “Brundibar” at Hope Academy, and he was a finalist in the Shakespeare contest with us two years ago. Congratulations to him and to all of our students who took part in the Shakespeare contest this year.

Bethan Neely, Hope Academy organ student, studying with Dr. J. Richard Szeremany, received a standing ovation when she played the prelude and the postlude during the 11 am worship service on January 27. For the prelude she played “Eight Variations on Leaning on the Everlasting Arms,” and for the postlude she played, “The Theme from Masterpiece Theater.” If you missed her live performance, you can watch a segment of it at www.YouTube.com/HopeAcademy.