Power APAC (Jackson) and Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carrere & Denegre LLP
Duration of partnership: 18 years
85 volunteers
Impacts 600 students
Since 1994 Power Academic and Performing Arts Complex and the law firm of Watkins Ludlam Winter & Stennis, now named Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carrere & Denegre LLP have had a powerful and effective partnership. Each year our adopters contribute their time and resources to enhance our program.
This January our adopters sponsored an art exhibit/contest for our visual arts students. This event has had a huge impact on our participating art students and their families, as well as the arts instructors. All during the first semester of school, our visual arts teachers worked with the students on hundreds of art projects. Over 50 of those works were chosen to enter the contest.
On Jan. 23 the artwork was displayed in the lobby of the beautiful downtown Jackson Pinnacle building, directly outside the Jones-Walker offices. On Tuesday, Jan. 24, the well-known local artist Bebe Wolfe adjudicated the art show. Winners were chosen and the artwork remained on display until Jan. 26. That evening, the show culminated in a wonderful and exciting reception. The adopters provided refreshments, and Power APAC strings students provided the guests with musical selections while the artwork was viewed.
Former governor William Winter spoke at the reception, giving a brief history of our unique and successful partnership, and presented the awards. Nine works were chosen for recognition and one work was chosen as overall winner. Each of the winners was presented a $20 gift certificate to our locally owned and operated art supply store, the Art Supply Headquarters. The overall winner was presented a $50 gift certificate to Art Supply Headquarters. A crowd of more than 100 guests viewed the works and enjoyed the musical presentation and award ceremony.
Activities
Book Buddies and Bookfair; Operation Christmas Child community service project; ice cream and treats for testing incentives; refrigerator for teachers’ lounge for teacher appreciation; spring art exhibit at Mississippi Museum of Art; Teacher of the Year spa gift certificate; career talk; field day treats; Olympian and Apollo academic awards for highest academic average of 4th and 5th graders.
Impact
Students in 4th and 5th grades consistently reach higher levels of achievement, resulting in STAR school status for the past 3 years. In 2011the school had 38 Scholastic Winners, with more than 60% of applicants winning awards. 61% of visual arts students received scholastic art awards in 2011.