Ricardo Robinson-Shinall, the theater director at Braden River High School, presents Roxane Caravan, the theater director at Lakewood Ranch High School, with the Dr. Sherry Lawrence Theatre Education Award.
Photo by Liz Ramos
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School District of Manatee County students were able to showcase their talents during the annual Manatee Arts Education Council's Arts Alive March 27.
Arts Alive at the Grove in Lakewood Ranch featured performances from the Braden River High School jazz band and the Lakewood Ranch Mustang Players.
Bill Ferrell, a commercial art teacher at Braden River High School, was awarded the Barbara Turner-Grace Visual Arts Education Award.
"I once had the honor of being called a wizard by one of my former students," Ferrell said. "The word 'wizard' derives from 'wisely.' If I had any wisdom, from all my years of teaching, it's understanding the magic of what we do is empowering our students."
Roxane Caravan, the theater director at Lakewood Ranch High School, was awarded the Dr. Sherry Lawrence Theatre Education Award.
"My life is art," Caravan said. "The past 23 years at Lakewood Ranch High School have been extremely rewarding. … The most rewarding experience as an educator is watching your students achieve, grow, lead and go on to have successful lives. Many of our alumni have successful careers in all areas of the arts, but also success stories in many careers outside of the arts as well. I am grateful to have shared my love, passion and commitment to theater with so many throughout my years."
Both Ferrell and Caravan said they were humbled for receiving their respective awards and honored to see their students' work being showcased at Arts Alive.
Braden River High School's Barbara Baeza has her artwork auctioned off at Arts Alive.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Lakewood Ranch High School's Emily Conelias has her art on display at Manatee Arts Education Council's Arts Alive.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Braden River High School's Makayla Mocadlo, Ava Clouse and Sebastian Cullado have fun performing with the jazz band.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Braden River High School's Nick Teta performs with the jazz band at the fourth annual Arts Alive.
Photo by Liz Ramos
The Braden River High School jazz band performs at Arts Alive.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Ricardo Robinson-Shinall, the fine arts department chair and theater and dance teacher at Braden River High School, serves as the master of ceremonies at Arts Alive.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Jeramiah Bowman, the district liaison for the Manatee Arts Education Council, talks about the partnership between the education council and community organizations.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Mary Glass, the treasurer of the Manatee Arts Education Council, presents the Barbara Turner-Grace Visual Arts Education Award to Braden River High School's Bill Ferrell.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Arts advocate Vernon DeSear, Manatee Arts Education Council members Mary Glass and Dudley Leigh, Ben Jewell-Plocher and Jeramiah Bowman surprise Cynthia Saunders (center), the superintendent of the School District of Manatee County, with an award to honor her dedication to the arts in the school district.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Lakewood Ranch High School's Grace LaBranche and Connor Henning perform with the Lakewood Ranch Mustang Players during Arts Alive.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Lakewood Ranch High School's Meghan Pierce gives it her all during a performance with the Lakewood Ranch Mustang Players at Arts Alive.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Lakewood Ranch High School's Elizabeth "Z" Nieves and Juliana Mattes perform at Arts Alive with the Lakewood Ranch Mustang Players.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Ricardo Robinson-Shinall, the theater director at Braden River High School, presents Roxane Caravan, the theater director at Lakewood Ranch High School, with the Dr. Sherry Lawrence Theatre Education Award.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Ricardo Robinson-Shinall, the theater director at Braden River High School, congratulates Roxane Caravan, the theater director at Lakewood Ranch High School, on receiving the Dr. Sherry Lawrence Theatre Education Award.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Dustin Dahlquist, the principal at Lakewood Ranch High School, congratulates theater department director Roxane Caravan on receiving the Dr. Sherry Lawrence Theatre Education Award.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Bill Ferrell, a commercial art teacher at Braden River High School, and Roxane Caravan, the theater department director at Lakewood Ranch High School, are honored with awards at Arts Alive.
Managing Editor Liz Ramos previously covered education and community for the East County Observer. Before moving to Florida, Liz was an education reporter for the Lynchburg News & Advance in Virginia for two years after graduating from the Missouri School of Journalism.
