Having been selected as one of 20 U.S. Presidential Scholars in the arts this year, New World School of the Arts (NWSA) once again brought this honor to Miami on behalf of the prestigious NWSA Visual Arts Department.
As part of the Presidential Scholars class of 2024, new scholar Paola Alvarez Ramirez will be recognized for her outstanding achievements during an online awards program this summer. Presented on behalf of the President of the United States, the U.S. Presidential Scholar Award is one of the nation's highest honors given to a high school student and symbolically honors all promising high school graduating students.
“We are so proud of Paola Alvarez Ramirez. She is an exceptionally talented individual and we are thrilled that her career at New World School of the Arts has culminated with this prestigious recognition,” said Dr. Contessa Bryant, NWSA High School Principal.
“I always say that our artists are no longer doing art of 'now,' they are creating art of 'next,' which requires visionary and a willingness to take risks. I am so proud that Paola had teachers who nurtured her natural talent and encouraged her to create such interesting and powerful art,” added Dr. Bryant.
“This award is one of the highest honors in the country. Paola's dedication to her artistic endeavors, her creative talents and her community work are a testament to her creative and social activism,” said O. Gustavo Plasencia, dean of visual arts at New World School of the Arts. “We are pleased to see her efforts recognized. The NWSA is very proud of her, and we can only imagine what she will accomplish in the future.”
Paola Alvarez Ramirez, a high school senior in the visual arts department at New World School of the Arts, plans to enroll at the University of the Arts London to pursue a career in fashion design. Being well versed in this field of art, Paola has been consistently preparing herself to achieve her dream of becoming a fashion designer.
“Paola has sought opportunities to further her artistic pursuits, including attending painting and drawing courses at the School of Visual Arts in New York City and taking online fashion design courses at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago,” explains Nadine Civic, NWSA high school counselor.
Paola demonstrated her unwavering dedication to her passion for art by taking fashion-focused courses at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and traveling to London to take in-person fashion design and draping courses at the same art institute.
Not only does Paola juggle her demanding academic load at NWSA (five academic classes, a college-level art course, and three hours of art training per day), she also finds time to commit to extracurricular activities at school and in the community.
“High school students at New World School of the Arts take college-level arts courses that help them develop focus, discipline and perceptive skills – qualities that are key to academic as well as artistic success. In this environment, Paola demonstrated incredible discipline and a drive to pursue excellence not only academically but also artistically,” Civic noted.
As president of the NWSA National English Honor Society, she leads the school's literary magazine, meticulously editing anonymous student submissions into works that represent a diverse student body. Paola also participates in New World School of the Arts' mentor program, providing guidance and support to freshman students, volunteers with Hermanos de la Calle, an organization that makes sandwiches for the less fortunate, and volunteers with Tropotrope, an inclusive arts center that exchanges art and writing with prisoners.
U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts, all of whom are YoungArts Prize winners, are recommended by the organization to the White House Committee on Presidential Scholars and selected on the basis of academic and artistic excellence, leadership qualities and community service activities.
Adding to the notable list of U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts awards that have been won by New World School of the Arts students, the recognition is bestowed annually to a small number of promising students across the country.
For the school that nurtures and develops them, the reward comes in the form of prestige and honor. Having produced more than 20 Presidential Arts Scholars since 1988, Paola’s impressive recognition as a Presidential Arts Scholar marks the school’s 10th award in the visual arts category.
For more information about New World School of the Arts, call 305-237-3135 or visit nwsa.mdc.edu.
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