Ms School Of The Arts

b r o o k h aven: ms school of the arts

artistic excellence

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Mississippi School of the A r t s

The Phoenix has risen and the heart of downtown Brookhaven is pulsating with creative activity. Located on 9 acres at the historic Whitworth College campus, the Mississippi School of the Arts has just completed its fifth year of operation. MSA’s executive director and first employee Vicki S. Lambert, Ph.D., explains “We just graduated our fourth class of seniors this year. We are a 2 year program for junior and senior high students. We are similar to the Mississippi School of Math and Science except we have an arts focus.” Funded by the state of Mississippi, MSA offers 4 programs of study which includes literary art, visual art, theatre or drama and vocal music. “We have dance and movement as part of the theatre and music department but we are looking forward to making a full fledge dance program in the near future ” Lambert adds. With close to 170 students enrolled in the fall of 2008, the number of students and college scholarships offered to graduat-

ing seniors continues to grow. “To date, we have had a 100% graduation rate. All our graduates have either gone straight to college, into the military and directly to work in the arts area” Lambert states. The impressively high graduation rate may be in part due to the motivation of the students who have to go through a comprehensive application process in 10th grade which includes recommendations, 2.5 overall grade point average in high school, as well as auditions, performances or portfolio reviews depending on their discipline. Since it is a residential program, space is limited due to the number of dorm rooms. “Our students have no difficulty getting into any school” Lambert says. “We have them going all over the nation. Big name noted schools are courting them but sometimes they get more scholarship money out of state than they do instate.” Of the 38 students who graduated last year, almost 2.5 million dollars were offered in scholarships. Because the stu-

dents are traditionally academically gifted as well, a great deal of it was offered for academic scholarships as well as artistic. Patti Perkins, a community member who helped spearhead the development of MSA has seen the program from all different aspects since its inception. In addition to helping develop the host family network on campus which “adopts” the students for their 2 year stay, she is also a member of the School of the Arts Foundation, and a substitute teacher. Perkins explains how the idea for MSA began. “Whitworth College dates back to 1858 and originally was a 4 year Methodist women’s college. Part of the campus was used as a field hospital during the civil war and after WWII, a lot of veterans went to school here on the GI bill. Over the course of years, the buildings started tumbling down, remained vacant, and became an eyesore.” Perkins states that Ms. Monelle Smith was a wonderful lady who passed away when she was in her 90s and

STORY BY JAMIE O’QUINN PHOTOS COURTESY MISSISSIPPI SCHOOL OF THE ARTS

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left funds for Lampton Auditorium on the campus to be restored so the community would have a place for events or stage production. When it was completed, a dedication for the renewed auditorium was held and Governor Fordice’s wife, First Lady Pat Fordice attended. “I remember that date so clearly” Perkins states. “We listened to her speech and she was so cheerful in her bright yellow silk suit. As she walked around she said ’You know, this would be a wonderful

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place for the Mississippi School of the Arts. Our state needs something to compliment the Mississippi School of Math and Science in Starkville.’ We were standing there and we started looking with fresh eyes. Golly, we had done one building, wouldn’t it be wonderful to do the others.” It wasn’t long until the movers and shakers in the community such as Richard Baker started visiting similar schools in other states and Representative Barnett started pushing forward legislation. “Between Ms. Fordice, Mr.

Baker and Representative Barnett, they were able to make it happen. We were off and rolling” she adds. The community pulled together and kept the momentum going from there. In 2000 Lambert was hired as director and Hattiesburg architect Larry Albert was contracted. Each brick from the other buildings on campus had to be tediously re-mortared and put back in place. Perkins credit’s the MSA as a shot in the arm for the rest of the downtown Brookhaven

b r o o k h aven: ms school of the arts

community. “It is amazing” she states. “Our whole downtown area, restaurants, shops, and buildings have been revitalized. MSA is the jewel in our crown. People are now more involved in our community and civic projects than they were before.” Just as Perkins gives praise to MSA as helping the community, Lambert credit’s the community with fostering the school’s success. She states “Brookhaven is the most supportive community of any place I have ever worked in education. The Chamber of Commerce, city, county, and community members support us in every way. The city of Brookhaven actually donated this campus to the state of Mississippi for the purpose of creating MSA.” Both leaders are in agreement that the students at MSA are an amazing group of young men and women who have made a positive impact. “They are extremely bright and extremely motivated” Perkins states. Students go to school from 7:45 am - 5:15 pm. They take all their regular high school coursework and then classes in their specific discipline. Even after hours you can walk across campus and students will be working on a soliloquy from Shakespeare or drawing or singing opera. These are really gifted children who work very hard at what they do.” Lambert notes that their students have won gold medals at the national scholastic arts competition, placed in the top 10 in

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New York at the national Shakespeare competition, and their vocal musicians have sung twice at Carnegie Hall. “It is a wonderful place to watch students who don’t have the kind of programs they need at home to come here and be able to blossom in their art areas. It is hard for a child to leave home at 16 and go into a residential setting, but there is an advantage to that. When they go to college they already know what to do. They mature a lot as individuals while they are here.” Realizing the need for continued support and nurturing in their residential setting, Lambert makes every effort to ensure the students needs are met. “They are required to go home at least every other weekend because they are still young and need to spend time with their family” she states. For kids who are interested, many are involved in intramural sports with the local community leagues, local symphony, and church and youth activities if they wish. Ping pong and pool tables, basketball, and volleyball are onsite and the residential life staff also organizes different activities. Since its inception, MSA has also had access to the Host Family network. Perkins explains that as a parent of 3, she and her husband realized how hard it was to send their children to USM when they were older. To think how it would feel to send high school-

ers off to live away from home would be even more difficult. “We wanted to assure the parents that their children would be safe and looked after while they were here” she explains. After going through a screening process, interview, and police background check at their own expense, the host family makes themselves available. If the guardian of the student approves their child’s participation in the program, the parent and host family meet. The host family is available to share home cooked meals with the child, go to a movie or come to see the student in their afternoon art show or performance. “It’s nice for the child to see a familiar face and know that the adult is there specifically to see them” Perkins adds. Enthusiasm spills over into every part of the program. Perkins comments that the students seem to be a very tight knit group. “There seems to be a sense of comradery. The students are very positive and encouraging and seem to be genuinely excited about the other child’s success.” She attributes the forward movement of the school to Lambert’s perseverance. “Dr. Lambert has been there every step of the way. She works 10-12 hours every single day, 7 days a week. If it wasn’t for her, there wouldn’t be an MSA. She is involved in every single phase of the operation whether it’s putting on a hard hat, meeting with legislators and educators

for revenue, setting up the educational program or upgrading the food, she does it.” Perkins adds “We are blessed beyond measure to have the opportunity to serve our state by having MSA. The sun shines on this part of the world and the children who would not have the opportunity to develop their talent are given this chance and they are thriving”. Lambert comments “This is the most exciting job I have

ever had in my life. It is an educator’s dream. We meet all the requirements of regular graduation and the state of Mississippi guidelines but it is a different ambience because the students are creative, thoughtful and want to learn. They are happy to be here. It is one of the greatest benefits that Mississippi could provide for students. Mississippi is number one in the quality of excellence in our artistic area.”

Note: The state legislature has recently passed a law requiring payment of room and board for schools such as MSA at $500 per semester per student. MSA is looking for guardian angels who would like to support a child with a scholarship. For more information you may call the school at 601-823-1300 or e-mail [email protected]