Post 633: PWAS 16th Scholarship Award Given to Emma Rodriguez-Monge

PWAS 16th Scholarship Award Given to Emma Rodriguez-Monge

Monday, May 25, 2026 Woodbridge, Virginia. The Prince William Art Society (PWAS) celebrated their annual Jewell Pratt Burns Scholarship Award with the winning candidate Emma Rodriguez-Monge and her family at the art group's monthly meeting at the Tall Oaks Community building in Lake Ridge.

Emma Rodriguez-Monge

Emma is the winner of the 17th Scholarship given to Prince William County's graduating senior going on to study at George Mason this fall. A meeting in pictures as follows, click on an image to enlarge:

 

Emma with the PWAS Board 

 

Emma answering questions from the members and talking about her art works 

 

Emma with her family  

PWAS wishes Emma all the best in her future in life and ART!

The PWAS Scholarship

The idea for an art scholarship was first broached by Alice LaBier in 2007 (the PWAS President at that time), but the first award was given out in 2008. We did not award any scholarship at all for two years during Covid (2020-2021) because the public schools were closed. The art group meet on Zoom for awhile and started meeting again in person sometime mid 2021 or so.

This is the 16th Jewell Pratt Burns Scholarship given out to a deserving high school student graduating this year that is pursuing an education and future in the arts. The art group gives out 1 or 2 Scholarships a year so more than 16 students have received this award over the years.

The Scholarship is named after a PWAS Member, Jewell Burns. Who is Jewell Pratt Burns? She is a marvelous original member of the Prince William Art Society and her story is told here: 

An Interview with Jewell Pratt Burns 

Some samples of her works are here Jewell Burns Showcase Page 

And read more about the PWAS Jewell Pratt Burns Scholarship Award here.  

Emma goes to and will graduate from Forest Park and her recommending teacher was Ms. Alyssa Tice. She will major in Visual Arts and Tech, with a minor in film, at nearby George Mason. Emma was unable to present her animated work during the meeting, but she does original digital work that is quite polished, and the work books she had on the table showed multiple planning and hand drawn steps in the development of some of her digital and hand drawn or painted work. She has just begun to explore some of the traditional mediums and shows enthusiasm for trying out new traditional mediums and digital tools. 

We would love to hear about Emma's journey and hope she stays in touch.

And a big thank you goes to Emily Hawes and her Scholarship Program Team for all the legwork that goes into finding and processing the nominees for the Scholarship every year and a HUGE thank you to Miss Jewell Pratt Burns herself, who could not be at the meeting this year but is still, very definitely, hands on! 

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Author: Emily Hawes

Author: Donna Liguria is the Blogmaster for the PWAS Artistry Spin Blog and Donna's Cave Paintings Blog, and an artist member of the Prince William Art Society (PWAS) in Woodbridge, Virginia. And she takes on the PWAS social media duties as well (help me!) Donna specializes in acrylic painting of landscapes, seascapes, historic locations, animals and many subjects. Visit her Website at DonnaLiguriaArt.com and her Donna's Esty site to shop her art. 

Photographers: Donna Merchant, Tinnetta Putney, Gennifine Jalloh, and Donna Liguria

Local Art: The Prince William Art Society is a 50+-year-old non-profit art group in PWC for the appreciation of fine art throughout the county and Northern Virginia. Visit us at any of our local art shows or join us for our monthly meetings - held on the 4th Monday of the month at the Tall Oaks Community Center at 12298 Cotton Mill Dr, Woodbridge, VA at 7:30pm (typically, but check the website in case of any changes).

Want to join PWAS? Go to https://www.princewilliamartsociety.com/membership

Have an idea for a blog post? Are you a writer and want to help with the blog? Let me know! Thank you for visiting, and remember to Share, Follow, and Comment (below)! ...Remember, comments are monitored so they will not show up immediately.

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Post 572: PWAS Scholarship 2025 Faith Garcia Young

PWAS Scholarship 2025 Faith Garcia Young

Monday, May 26, 2025. At our monthly meeting for the month of May, the Prince William Art Society awarded the Jewell Pratt Burns Scholarship Award to a very well deserving young artist, Faith Garcia Young. Faith's family and Mr. William O'Connor, M.A. Fine Arts Department Chair, from Saint John Paul the Great High School in Dumfries, Virginia, were in attendance.

Jewell Pratt Burns Scholarship

Read more about the Jewell Pratt Burns Scholarship here and on the Prince William Art Society website here.

 

Emily Hawes (PWAS Programs and Scholarship Committees Chair) presenting the Scholarship Certificate and Check to Faith Young. The PWAS Board (seated)

Here is some of Faith's portfolio artwork that she had on display. The PWAS Members enjoyed the stories behind each piece with what inspirations went into the creation of each one. The first is a nod to Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen - the Keira Knightley version of the 2005 movie with Matthew Macfadyen. (Three cheers from me!)

 

By Faith Garcia Young

 

By Faith Garcia Young -Inspired by Easter morning at the empty tomb.

 

By Faith Garcia Young

 

L-R: Tom Payne, Faith Garcia Young, Bettie Sperty, Staci Blanchard and Eric Ndofor 

Photos from Emily Hawes

What an inspirational meeting! As the Prince William Art Society members listened to Faith's plans and hopes for her future in art, it was so heart warming. A very well deserved Scholarship Award winner! We truly hope those dreams come true and see her working at the National Gallery of Art one day!  Art World - here she comes!

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Author: Donna Liguria
Artistry Spin Blogmaster and an artist member of PWAS in Woodbridge, VA, specializing in acrylic painting. She paints landscapes, seascapes, animals and many subjects. Visit her Website at DonnaLiguriaArt.com, her Donna's Esty site and her Blog at Donna’s Cave Paintings.

Photography/Video Credits: Donna Liguria and Emily Hawes

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Local Art: The Prince William Art Society is a 50+-year-old non-profit art group in PWC for the appreciation of fine art throughout the county and Northern Virginia. Visit us at any of our local art shows or join us for our monthly meetings - held on the 4th Monday of the month at the Tall Oaks Community Center at 12298 Cotton Mill Dr, Woodbridge, VA at 7:30pm

Want to join PWAS? Go to https://www.princewilliamartsociety.com/membership

Have an idea for a blog post? Are you a writer and want to help with the blog? Let me know! Thank you for visiting, and remember to Share, Follow, and Comment (below)! ...Remember, comments are monitored so they will not show up immediately.

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Post 464: Jewell Pratt Burns Scholarship Awards 2024

Jewell Pratt Burns Scholarship Awards 2024

The monthly meetings of the Prince William Art Society in May of every year is typically a different type of program than our usual art group gathers for of guest speaker and meeting notes. There is cake. There is ice cream. There is celebration of the Jewell Pratt Burns Scholarship winners. The future of art.

Jewell Pratt Burns Scholarship Awards

by Emily Hawes

Think about how much fun it is when your work is selected... when you are selected! Chosen because someone appreciates your art work, your effort and your skill.

Now think about being in high school, facing the end of your senior year, and planning your future. Pretty exciting and scary, right? All of a sudden your life is filled with applications and interviews: Maybe college applications, maybe summer jobs, internships, scholarships.

Sometimes you're just not right for an opportunity, or it's just not right for you. And then you're chosen for some: You've been accepted to a college, you win a scholarship... because someone thinks you have the talent to succeed in the future you've decided to commit yourself to working toward. What powerful votes of confidence those are, and with meaningful help at this pivotal time.

Each year our membership provides the Jewell Pratt Burns scholarship to help one or two students pursue their dream of getting a degree in the Fine Arts or in Art Education, to increase their opportunities for working in the Fine Art field. Come to the general membership meeting on May 27th and help celebrate our student scholarship winners. Support them as they receive their awards, talk with them and their families over cake and ice cream, and enjoy being a part of this celebration.

Membership meetings are held at the Tall Oaks Community Center, 12298 Cotton Mill Dr., Lakeridge, VA 22192. Meetings start at 7:30 pm. All programs are free and open to the public, who are cordially invited to attend.

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Author: Emily Hawes

 

Author: Donna Liguria
Artistry Spin Blogmaster and an artist member of PWAS in Woodbridge, VA, specializing in acrylic painting. She paints landscapes, seascapes, animals and many subjects. Visit her Website at DonnaLiguriaArt.com, her Donna's Esty site and her Blog at Donna’s Cave Paintings.

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Local Art: The Prince William Art Society is a 50+-year-old non-profit art group in PWC for the appreciation of fine art throughout the county and Northern Virginia. Visit us at any of our local art shows or join us for our monthly meetings - held on the 4th Monday of the month at the Tall Oaks Community Center at 12298 Cotton Mill Dr, Woodbridge, VA at 7:30pm

Want to join PWAS? Go to https://www.princewilliamartsociety.com/membership

Have an idea for a blog post? Are you a writer and want to help with the blog? Let me know! Thank you for visiting, and remember to Share, Follow, and Comment!

Post 295: An Art Scholarship too!

An Art Scholarship too!

Did you know the Prince William Art Society has a scholarship for high school seniors? That's right - not only does PWAS offer opportunities for local artists like gallery and show participation and programs for enrichment, PWAS offers a scholarship for talented Prince William County students planning to pursue degrees in art or art education.

The Jewell Pratt Burns Scholarship from the Prince William Art Society

The Jewell Pratt Burns Scholarship has been being offered continuously (except for 2020 and 2021 when CV-19 interrupted public life) since 2008! Each year either one or two graduating seniors has been presented with a $1,000 award to help them get started on their creative journeys.

Before that presentation in May however, each one had to be accepted into a two or four year college art program, put together a portfolio selected from their work, and submit it with a letter of recommendation from one of their art instructors as well as their own essay about why they should be selected for the award.

Founder Alice LaBier and three early 2008 committee members: Jewell Pratt Burns, Jim Gallagher, Fran Pennington

The PWAS Scholarship Committee meets to review the application packages and makes tentative decisions, but it's not uncommon for those initial choices to be entirely upended by the next step - the student interviews. Each student takes twenty minutes to talk about their art, their challenges and their aspirations. This is the moment when they can go beyond the finite visual achievements spread across the table to talk about what they are reaching for in those works, to show how their skills have grown and continue to grow, and to personalize their package.

The Committee works hard to ensure the entire process is a positive learning experience for students. If we're successful, the one or two students chosen for the monetary award each year aren't the only ones to benefit. We try to leave each student ready to go into their next interview or job application with a bit more confidence. Regardless of the outcome of the award choice, a letter is sent to each student - as well as one to their recommending teacher - with feedback, and thanking them for coming. The thanks are entirely sincere. It really is a privilege to hear their stories, experience their earnestness, and see through their eyes the exciting creative futures they plan.

                         

This year, a $1,000 scholarship will be offered again to each of up to two students. Any Prince William County student in 12th grade, in any public or private school, or who is home schooled and going to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts or Art Education can apply. The application, deadlines and addresses are available online and should be consulted for details on the requirements and procedures for entry: PWAS website Scholarship and Outreach   

Prince William Art Society's Jewell Pratt Burns Scholarship is entirely funded by donations, and the community has shown enthusiasm over the years for supporting artistically talented youth. A donation box in the Open Space Arts gallery at the Stonebridge Shopping Center (15000 #140 Potomac Town Center, Woodbridge, VA) feeds into the scholarship savings account, and many individuals donate there. Other individuals and groups have donated directly, as well. PWAS is grateful to all the donors who have helped Prince William County youth afford to pursue a career in the arts.    

This year, the Prince William Art Society is especially grateful to two direct donors:  Ms. Judy Gallagher made a donation in memory of Jim Gallagher, artist, beloved PWAS member, and active participant on the Scholarship Committee over the years. On behalf of Visual Expressions, a group of artists in the over-55 community of Four Seasons, Sandra McClelland Lewin presented the balance of their operating fund upon disbanding this year. The group wanted to ensure the funds would go to support the visual arts in Prince William County.

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Author: Emily Hawes
An artist member of PWAS in Woodbridge

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Local Art: Visit us at Stonebridge Open Space Arts at 15000 Potomac Town Center, Woodbridge, VA - Open Wed to Sat 12-7 and Sun 12-5
The Prince William Art Society is a 50-year-old non-profit art group in PWC for the appreciation of fine art throughout the county and Northern Virginia.

Want to know how to get involved at OSA? If you are an artist (18 or older) living in Prince William County, or a are a member of a PWC art group, you are welcome to get on our next art show's emailing list. Send it to us, OR come by the gallery to find out more.

Want to join PWAS? Go to https://www.princewilliamartsociety.com/membership

Thank you for visiting, and remember to Share, Follow, and Comment!

Post 164: PWAS 2022 Scholarship Winners

PWAS Scholarship Winners

Monday, May 23, 2022 at Tall Oaks Community Center, Woodbridge, VA. It's good to be back! By this I mean, it is so good to be back on track with the Scholarship Program of Prince William Art Society! PWAS was able to award two scholarships to two high school students this year where we could not in 2020 and 2021.

Anne Wu and Ayanna Rowe Are Awarded the 2022 Jewell Pratt Burns Art Scholarship

On 23 May 2022 the Prince William Art Society held the 13th Jewell Pratt Burns Scholarship award ceremony, named for longstanding member from the original Woodbridge Art Guild.  The two students selected each received  a $1000 scholarship. Both students attend Charles J. Colgan Sr. High School, The Center for Fine and Performing Arts. 

Both students will be attending Virginia Commonwealth University.

 

Read more about the PWAS Jewell Pratt Burns Art Scholarship here

 

 

From left to right: Ayanna Rowe, Jewell Pratt Burns, and Anne Wu

 

From left to right: Ayanna Rowe, Ana Quispe (PWAS President), Jewell Pratt Burns, and Anne Wu

 

 

 

From left to right: Jewell Pratt Burns, and Staci Blanchard (PWAS Vice President)

 

The future of these two aspiring artists looks very bright!

 

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Author: Donna Liguria
An artist member of PWAS in Woodbridge, VA specializing in acrylic painting. She paints landscapes, seascapes, animals and many subjects. Visit her Website at https://DonnaLiguriaArt.com & her Blog at https://donnascavepainting.blogspot.com/.

Photography/Video Credits:
Ana Quispe and Donna Liguria

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Local Art: Visit us at Stonebridge Open Space Arts at 15000 Potomac Town Center, Woodbridge, VA - Open Wed to Sat 12-7 and Sun 12-5
The Prince William Art Society is a 50-year old non-profit art group in PWC for the the appreciation of fine art throughout the county and Northern Virginia.

Want to know how to get involved at OSA?
If you are an artist in Prince William County, 18 or older OR are a member of a local art group, you are welcome to get on our next art show's emailing list. Send it to us, OR come by the gallery to find out more.

Want to join PWAS? Go to https://www.princewilliamartsociety.com/membership

Thank you for visiting, and remember to Share, Follow, and Comment!