Lee County senior awarded Pastel Society Scholarship

Kathleen Minckler Lee County high school senior Kathleen Minckler has been awarded the second annual Sam Platt Scholarship from the Southwest Florida Pastel Society. The annual scholarship is awarded to a graduating high school senior who will be pursuing a career in the visual arts through a post-high school art program, either college, university or professional art school.

Ms. Minckler is graduating from North Fort Myers High School with a 4.0 plus GPA and has been taking advanced placement credits at Edison State College. She plans on taking a few more classes at Edison this fall, and then transferring to Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah Georgia.

Awarding the Sam Platt Scholarship is a major initiative and source of pride for the society. Named in honor of its first president, Naples artist/educator Sam Platt, the scholarship has been established to encourage aspiring students to realize their dream of becoming an artist.

Since February 2003, the Southwest Florida Pastel Society has promoted pastel painting exhibits, competitions and educational opportunities throughout the Southwest Florida region. Sam Platt and Lynne Wilcox, the current president, presented the award to Ms. Minckler during Senior Awards night at North Fort Myers High School.