Polson High School grads receive Sandpiper scholarships

Three Polson High School graduates recently received college scholarship awards from the Sandpiper Gallery and Gift Shop.

Kylei Big Bow and Omar Perez Carrillo are 2018 graduates of PHS. Big Bow will attend the Institute of American Inian Arts in Santa Fe, N.M., this fall. The IAIA is the only four-year degree fine arts institution in the nation devoted to compemporary Native American and Alaskan native arts.

Omar Perez Carrillo will enter Columbus College of Art and Design in Columbus, Ohio. He chose to major in management of fashion design. Founded in 1879, CCAD is one of the oldest private, non-profit art and design colleges in the United States.

Preston Alexander attends Brigham Young University-Rexburg, Idaho. Now in his senior year, he will complete his major in art illustration. He hopes to use his skills globally.

“This year’s scholarship winners exhibited the excellent characteristics and educational success we use to award our financial aid,” Charlie Fudge, scholarship chairperson, said.

The Sandpiper uses money from their annual art-in-the-park shows to provide the awards.

A non-profit, the Sandpiper Gallery began operation about 45 years ago in Polson with a mission to encourage and promote participation in the arts in Lake County. As part of this mission, they provide art scholarships to deserving students in Lake and Sanders counties.