Alumna receives Lowe's grant
By Natalia H. Schust
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Iia Owens-Williamson's self portrait, "Iia" |
Iia Owens-Williamson (art, 2004; art education, 2007) received the 2007-2008 Lowe's Toolbox for Education grant from the Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation. The $5,000 grant will be used to purchase a kiln and clay tools and supplies for Poole Elementary School in Paulding County, where Owens-Williamson is currently teaching art. Both the students and teachers are excited about this new opportunity in art creation that's being added to the school. “I’m so excited to have won the grant,” she said.
Owens-Williamson explained that once the new kiln and ceramics tools are in place, she will have a large “Mudslinging” session during which parents, students and teachers will create pieces of pottery. The resulting ceramic pieces will be sold or auctioned off to benefit the school’s art department and the P.T.A. “The main purpose of this grant is to encourage teachers, students and the school's parent/teacher association to participate in an all-inclusive, collaborative art project," said Owens-Williamson. "Right now, we are awaiting the arrival of our brand new kiln. It's due any day now,” said , enthusiastically.
The "grand opening" for the kiln will take place at the beginning of the 2008-2009 school year. “We've had an extremely busy year beginning by preparing for our ‘First Artworks’ art show and, now that that's completed, we are getting ready for what’s coming up next,” said Owens-Williamson.