Jay NY Student Wins $1K Art Scholarship After 5-Year Pause

For the first time since the pandemic, a small arts nonprofit in Jay, New York, could finally do what it does best: support young artists.

The Jay Entertainment and Music Society (JEMS) awarded the Carlos H. Straight Memorial Scholarship to Keleena Bresett, an illustration student at Rochester Institute of Technology. The $1,000 award returns after a five-year pause when COVID-19 hit the organization's finances hard.

Keleena applied for the scholarship last spring as a senior at AuSable Valley High School. To receive the funds, she needed to complete her first college term successfully, and the results speak volumes.

She crushed her freshman drawing and design coursework, earning outstanding academic results. But what makes her story shine is how she balanced it all.

While managing her illustration major, Keleena plays trumpet in the RIT Wind Symphony and performs with a small jazz combo group. She also joined Vis Viva, the school's dance company, as part of their musical theatre group.

Sunny's Take

This scholarship means more than financial support. JEMS struggled through difficult years, watching their funds dwindle when they wanted most to help young artists.

Their board remained committed to fostering the arts in their community, even when their own finances looked bleak. Now climbing back to stability, they chose to prioritize giving back before fully recovering themselves.

For Keleena, the recognition validates her choice to pursue diverse artistic passions instead of narrowing her focus. She's excited about exploring even more performing and visual arts groups as she continues her studies.

The scholarship honors Carlos H. Straight's memory by supporting exactly the kind of well-rounded artist he would have celebrated: someone who refuses to choose between visual art, music, and performance.

After five tough years, both JEMS and Keleena are proving that creative communities bounce back stronger.