Dean Scartelli, Arts Society members, faculty and staff, honored guests, students and friends. Good evening and welcome.

I am privileged to be among so many phenomenal human beings in one room. I feel honored to be standing before you today to say two small words that have the power to move mountains: Thank You!

You’ve probably heard of the saying “starving artist”. Before we can step out into the world and physically starve, we are starving for that food of knowledge here. Your charitable contributions as donors are the bread and water that help to feed our expanding minds.

Particularly with the current state of the economy, the Arts are always looking for the support to allow aspiring artists to display their talents. It is wonderful to see that the Arts at Radford University are not ignored. No matter what art we may be pursuing, we all share one thing: love. A love that pours out in the clothes we shape with our own hands. The love that fills us with the energy to dance and a love that spills over into our voices and gives us songs to sing. The love that floods us with the imagination to paint masterpieces. And the love that drives us to step onto the stage and act in Pridemore Playhouse.

I will never forget the way I felt when it was announced that I had received an Arts Society Scholarship. It was if they had handed me an Oscar. So many emotions came rushing up: surprise, happiness, love, and joy (many tears of joy). I also looked around to my fellow students and friends asking, “Did he really just say my name?” I couldn’t fathom that this unselfish group of individuals was going to give me money to pursue my career. Then I met some of these individuals, and all of my questions were answered. I found a people that like myself had a deep and undeniable passion for the Arts. You took me in your hearts and gave me so many gifts, among those gifts, friendship.

You truly do make a difference in our lives. You are our role models and our motivation. You are our miracle workers. You keep us dreaming. You keep us believing in ourselves. Please keep on supporting our endeavors in the Arts. And though “Thank You” doesn’t seem enough to express the way we feel…on behalf of all of us in the College of Visual and Performing Arts at Radford University, thank you from the bottom of our hearts.