New Jersey Students and Leaders Honored at 30th Governor's Awards in Arts Education

TRENTON, N.J., April 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Nearly 100 students and education leaders were honored at the 30^th Annual Governor's Awards in Arts Education at the State Museum Auditorium in Trenton, NJ.

The event celebrates awareness and appreciation of arts education and recognizes the creativity, talent and leadership of the award winners. The award ceremony featured remarks by Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno.

This year's awards were presented to 82 students and 15 education leaders. National and statewide organizations selected the students for their exemplary work in creative writing, speech, dance, music, theatre and visual arts. Education and arts professionals were chosen for their exceptional commitment and contribution to arts education.

"I am proud to recognize these outstanding students and educators who represent the best in arts education in our state on this 30^th anniversary of the Governor's Awards in Arts Education," stated Governor Chris Christie.

Bob Morrison, Governance Chair, New Jersey Arts Education Partnership, commented, "By honoring these young men and women, we are recognizing the critical role arts education plays in the development of our young citizens."

The Governor's Awards in Arts Education celebration is a joint project between the New Jersey Arts Education Partnership, the New Jersey State Department of Education, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts -- a division of the New Jersey Department of State, and ArtPride NJ. Additional support is provided by: Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics; Art Educators of New Jersey; Art Administrators of New Jersey; Dance New Jersey; New Jersey Council of Teachers of English; New Jersey Forensic League; New Jersey Music Educators Association; New Jersey Performing Arts Center; Playwrights Theatre of New Jersey; Quadrant Arts Education Research; Speech and Theatre Association of New Jersey; Very Special Arts of New Jersey; and Young Audiences/New Jersey.

SOURCE New Jersey Arts Education Partnership