UCS Foundation presents seventh annual Arts & Idols Scholarship Gala

The Utica Community Schools Foundation for Educational Excellence will present its seventh annual Arts & Idols Scholarship Gala at 6 p.m. on March 5 at the Palazzo Grande Banquet and Event Center in Shelby Township.

Patrons at the Arts & Idols Scholarship Gala will have the chance to watch ten Utica Community Schools singers compete in a format based on the popular “American Idol” television show, while raising funds for the Utica Community Schools Superintendent’s Scholarship Fund and UCS fine and performing arts.

The event features dinner, silent and live art auctions of student and faculty art work and the idols competition.

This year’s idols and their high schools are:

Utica Academy for International Studies
Maggie Abell
Simran Singh

Utica High School
Austin Cassavoy
Cynda Molina
Taylor Murphy

Henry Ford II High School
Rachel Smith

Stevenson High School
Maryon Patterson
Antonia Ferrara-Skiba

Eisenhower High School
Simran Singh
Allison Thomas

The student singers were selected based on an audition. The first place idol will receive a $3,000 scholarship, second place will receive a $2,000 scholarship and the remaining participants will each receive a $1,000 scholarships.

Since its inception, proceeds from the Arts & Idols Gala have made it possible to award $157,000 in scholarships to UCS graduates to continue their education.

The Arts & Idols Gala is sponsored by the Utica Community Schools Foundation for Educational Excellence and The Palazzo Grande. Individual tickets are $75 and can be obtained at http://www.artsandidols.com.

Sponsorship opportunities are also available through the Arts & Idols website or by calling 586-797-6953.