FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 27, 2011

MUW art students help provide resources to Caledonia High School art program

COLUMBUS, Miss. – The art program at Caledonia High School will have more resources thanks to the Drawing Out Success program run by students of Mississippi University for Women’s Kappa Pi International Honorary Art Fraternity.

Funds to benefit the program will be raised at Kappa Pi’s annual Art in Autumn Auction and reception on Saturday, Nov. 5. The event, which is open to the public, will be held in the Eugenia Summer Gallery in the Art and Design Building from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Doors open with a silent auction of donated student artwork. The live auction, which follows, features work by art faculty, art alumni and other professional artists. 

Kappa Pi’s mission is to enhance a deeper appreciation of the arts within the community, which MUW’s chapter achieves through its Drawing Out Success program. The international honorary art fraternity has partnered with area high schools such as West Point High School, Columbus High School, West Lowndes High School and New Hope High School to raise money for their art programs in previous years. 

With money raised from the auction, Kappa Pi purchases big-ticket items for the high school art programs, items that the teachers usually cannot afford.  “It is worth all of the efforts involved to raise money that will provide students with art items, which are many times overlooked in the annual school budget,” said Frances Hairston, past president of Kappa Pi.

The MUW art fraternity bought ceramics supplies for last year’s partner school. This year, Nedra Mitchell, Caledonia High School art teacher, has requested digital photography equipment.  Mitchell said that she is “honored” to have Caledonia High School selected as this year’s partner.

Joshua Moore, this year’s Kappa Pi president, said, “The Art in Autumn Auction is a great opportunity for the city of Columbus and the surrounding area to support the art program of a local high school and arts in the community. As a member of Kappa Pi, I am very excited about getting to be a part of this opportunity. We hope the residents of Columbus and the surrounding areas attend to show their support.”

For more information, contact Dr. Joyce at (662) 241-7812 or email bjoyce@as.muw.edu.