New Jersey Students and Leaders to be Honored at 31st Governor's Awards in Arts Education

TRENTON, N.J., May 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- On May 5, 2011, nearly 100 students and education leaders will be honored at the 31st Annual Governor's Awards in Arts Education at the State Museum Auditorium in Trenton, New Jersey.

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

This year's awards will be presented to 81 students and 18 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 honored to recognize these outstanding students and educators for their excellence in arts and arts education on this 31st anniversary of the Governor's Awards in Arts Education," stated Governor Chris Christie.

Bob Morrison, Governance Chair, New Jersey Arts Education Partnership, commented, "These young men and women have shown that creativity sparks a passion for learning. We are here to recognize 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