Senior Scholarship

Cahoon To Pursue The Arts, Recipient of 2011 Scholarship

Scholarship recipient Chelsea Lynn Cahoon (left), Miriam Hertz, AAI Scholarship Chair (right). Photo by Dwight Jenkins, ©Seeley-Swan Pathfinder.Each year Alpine Artisans, Inc. (AAI) presents a scholarship to a graduating high school student who is planning to pursue the arts. This year's recipient of the 2011 Ruth Korn Memorial Senior Scholarship was Chelsea Lynn Cahoon, a graduating senior at Seeley-Swan High School (SSHS). Chelsea received $800 to pursue a major in photography and minor in voice at The University of Montana.

Chelsea wrote in her application letter for the Ruth Korn Scholarship that "singing and music have been and are a huge part of my life," wrote Chelsea in her scholarship application. "My family has a very musical background, going back to my grandparents on both sides; my Grandpa Palecek was in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra."

"I have been working on a music career for a long time, and I believe that I continue to work hard at it in order to achieve my dream of becoming a singer."

Chelsea is planning to study photography at the University of Montana, noting "I would like to learn how to photograph wildlife, scenery, action shots and anything that will bring joy to those who view my prints and learn how to take better action shots that capture the moment."

"With my degree I would like to be a professional photographer that takes photos outdoors and shares them with those who are unable to go and see beautiful scenery and wildlife for themselves."

During her presentation of the Ruth Korn Scholarship to Chelsea at the SSHS Senior Awards Assembly, Miriam Hertz, AAI Scholarship Chair, said, "It is clear that not only are you talented in the arts and gifted academically, but you a leader and mentor. Perhaps, Mr. Loren Rose, Controller of Pyramid Mountain Lumber Company, said it best when he wrote that you 'encourage others to participate and then mentor them to achieve the most out of their participation, whether it is in sports, [church] youth group, academically or musically.'"

"And Ms. Jennifer Courtney, the [SSHS] family and consumer sciences teacher, shared with us that you have 'volunteered as a math tutor, tennis…instructor, and piano teacher for several years.'"

Congratulations to Chelsea on receiving this scholarship and all the best on pursuing your photographic dream.

Article and photo ©Seeley-Swan Pathfinder.