Posted December 05, 2019 in Articles
Three deserving students have received CSU’s School of Film and Media Arts first scholarship, established by longtime Clevelanders Ageleke and Lee Zapis, to support students who are close to graduating but need additional support to compete their degree.
With an extensive background in art, music and theater, Kate Gammons-Nardi is in her second year with a 4.0 GPA and has been on the President’s list, carrying an arduous 18-credit load.
Ciarlene Torres Burkhalter, also on the Dean’s list, is a first-generation student, seeking to model the importance of higher education to the rest of her family. She is currently working on a documentary about her brother’s best friend who was murdered as a teen.
Angela Xayavong is a Phi Theta Kappa and Tau Sigma National Honors member and commutes from Akron. Also the first to attend college in her family, Angela hopes to become a camera operator in the food industry.
When he created the scholarship with his wife, Lee Zapis, a 1978 CSU graduate, noted his desire to be a part of nurturing the talent in rising film and media arts students.
“Ageleke and I want to support the next generation of story tellers and are committed to enhancing higher educational attainment for all. This fund will help talented individuals get the extra help they need to ‘cross the finish line,’” he said.
CSU's School of Film and Media Arts is the first stand-alone school in the state and is housed in a state-of-the-art facility on the sixth floor of the Idea Center in Cleveland’s Playhouse Square district.
