The Cass County Community Foundation is excited to announce that four students have been selected and awarded the Richard & Rose Gates Discovery Award for high school summer enrichment programs for 2024. Austin Brooke, Katie Crawford, Keirsten Nies, and Alaina Sanchez will be traveling this summer to pursue their individual areas of interest.
Brooke, a Pioneer High School student, will be traveling to New York City for two weeks in late July to study at the Broadway Artists Alliance Summer Programs. The programs are “by audition” and provide top tier training to aspiring young performance artists. Brooke will be a senior at Pioneer in the fall.
Linda “Katie” Crawford, Lewis Cass High School, has been nominated and accepted to attend the Congress of Future Medical Leaders in Boston on June 26-28th. The program is an academic honors program with strict requirements to attend. Katie will be spending time observing and discussing state-of-the-art medical diagnostic tools, learning from researchers and observing surgeries.
Keirsten Nies, Pioneer High School, will attend Notre Dame University June 8 through June 22 in South Bend, Indiana and participate in the Restorative Justice Program. The program attracts students from around the globe and is highly competitive. The Pre-College Summer Study immerses students into college -level learning and research, offers international perspectives and opportunities to expand attendees’ networks.
Alaina Sanchez, Lewis Cass High School, will be returning to the Joffrey Ballet School for three weeks of intensive dance performance and training. Students must submit audition videos to attend the coursework and performances in Dallas, Texas. Alaina has danced for more than twelve years and performs locally with the Kristie Wright School of Dance.
The Gates Discovery Award was established in 2022 to assist talented high school students wishing to improve their skills through intensive summer programs. The first award was presented to Ian Hook in spring of 2022 and allowed him to attend two summer music sessions at the renown Berkley School of Music. Hook, now a Lewis Cass Senior, said the experience was life-changing and has opened new doors of opportunity.
The awards are available to students attending Cass County high schools who have completed their freshmen year but not graduated high school and are accepted to a summer program in the field of academics or leadership. Preference will be given (but not limited) to students accepted at a summer program in the field of engineering, art, music, science, or leadership. Enthusiasm and interest in the summer program will be the most important criterion for acceptance, followed by financial need. Academic standing may also be considered depending on the program.
Richard Gates was a 1947 graduate of Lucerne High School who enlisted in the Army in 1948. After serving his country for three years, he returned home to Indiana and was awarded a scholarship to attend the Acme School of Tool & Design Technology in South Bend. The scholarship led to a 30-year career as a senior tool design engineer working in the aerospace, missile, rail, machine, and automotive industries. Richard specifically worked on the development of the Boeing 747, navy radar, Trident missile systems, F-15 fighter program, and the NASA space shuttles.
Richard and his wife, Rose had many opportunities to visit and explore new places but, they loved their quiet life in Royal Center. When they both passed away within months of each other, The Richard and Rose Gates Educational Endowment was created to help students in the community they loved and called home. The Gates Discovery Award is only one of the opportunities created by their generosity.
For more information or if you have questions about the program, please contact Deanna Crispen, President & CEO, Cass County Community Foundation Inc. 574-722-2200.
Comments