The Foundation for Excellence Owensboro Independent Schools has established two new
scholarships for Owensboro High School students in the area of Performing Arts. Both
will be awarded for the first time to seniors in the OHS Class of 2019.
The Michael A. Hernon Scholarship was established by OHS band members from 1962-
1967. Mr. Hernon was band director during those years and touched the lives of many
students during that era. The $500 scholarship will be awarded annually to an OHS senior
band member who plans to enroll and attend a college or vocational school to continue
his/her education, but is not required to major in music. It will be awarded to a student
who has demonstrated excellence, hard work, collaboration, perseverance and joy in
making music.
The Bob Godthaab Scholarship for Performing Arts was established by some of his
former students. Mr. Godthaab taught English and Drama at OHS from 1968-1973 and
impacted the lives of many students, particularly as director of the Rose Curtain Players
theatre group. He was awarded Outstanding Speech/Theatre Educator of the Southeast
United States in 1972. The $1,000 annual scholarship will be awarded to a senior at OHS
who genuinely enjoys working with young people and plans to major in an area of fine
arts.
Owensboro Public Schools has a long tradition of excellence in Fine Arts having been
recognized for outstanding support and commitment to high-quality arts education in our
state and in the country with the Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network
and National School Boards Association Award for 2016. In 2019, OPS celebrates 11
Rose Curtain Players who received Superior ratings at Kentucky Thespians, 18 students
selected for All-State Music, and 18 2018 graduates who moved on to college with Arts
Scholarships.
To contribute to these scholarships mail checks to Foundation for Excellence, 450 Griffith Ave., Owensboro, KY 42301 or go online at https://owensboro.kyschools.us/Departments/Foundation-for-Excellence to MyPaymentsPlus to designate your donation.
For more information contact Jared Revlett, OPS public relations officer, at 270-686-
1000, [email protected] or Janet Suwanski, Foundation for
Excellence Executive Director at [email protected]
