NOCCA Media Arts: Filmmaking & Audio Production Student Selected As Presidential Scholar In The Arts 05/06/2009 »

Holden Brown, senior student attending New Orleans Center for Creative Arts and Fontainebleau High School in St. Tammany Parish, recently received the news he has been waiting for months: He was chosen as a Presidential Scholar In The Arts by the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars in his category of Cinematic Arts. This is the highest honor in the country bestowed on pre-professional high school art students. Holden is the only Louisiana student to receive this honor in 2009 and the only Cinematic Arts Presidential Scholar In The Arts this year.

Each year, 20 young artists from around the country are named Presidential Scholars in the Arts. At the request of the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars, the National Foundation for Advancement In The Arts (NFAA) nominates up to 60 youngARTS Finalists each year. From this group of nominees, the Commission selects 20 to be named Presidential Scholars in the Arts. The Presidential Scholars Program is a national recognition program administered by the U.S. Department of Education to honor some of the nation's most distinguished graduating high school seniors.

Holden will travel to Washington, D.C. in June and his films will be screened at the Smithsonian.  As a guest of the Commission, Holden will also spend time meeting with elected officials, educators, authors, musicians, scientists and other accomplished professionals. He will be honored by President Obama during an awards ceremony.

"NOCCA exists to provide talented high school students with the training and opportunity to pursue the arts at the highest level,” stated NOCCA Interim President/CEO Kyle Wedberg. “Having Holden recognized as one of twenty out of thousands who applied nationally is a testament to his talent and hard work.  As the only student in Louisiana to be selected as a Presidential Scholar in the Arts, Holden is an outstanding example of the new generation of talented artists here that will continue to maintain and grow our vibrant cultural economy."

“Holden is one of the finest filmmakers I have ever taught,” stated Media Arts Chair Paul Werner. “Holden is an excellent cinematic artist who explores both the medium and his own visions of the world and his inner self. He is a master of his craft who dares to delve into deep issues.”

Holden plans on attending Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) with over $142,000 in scholarships. Because of his outstanding artistic talent and his Presidential Scholar in the Arts selection, MICA has offered Holden a custom curriculum and preference on class selections with an option of taking his academic classes at The Johns Hopkins University.

NOCCA is honored to have Holden part of its Class of 2009 who have currently received over $8 million in scholarship and grant offers with 97% of its graduating class attending college or arts conservatories next year. NOCCA, Louisiana’s arts conservatory for high school students, offers students from across the state tuition-free arts instruction in Creative Writing, Dance, Media Arts: Filmmaking & Audio Production, Music, Theatre Arts and Visual Arts. Potential students should visit http://www.nocca.com/ for more information.