Potsdam Artistic Congress Raises $2,000 for Memorial Scholarship

Potsdam High School Group Unveils Mural, Donates Funds for SUNY Potsdam's Katya Czerepak Greer Memorial Scholarship Fund

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From left, Chad Greer, Caroline Downing, Leslie Sutter, Ellie Hawley, Otto Czerepak and Patrick Brady pose at the check presentation for the Katya Czerepak Greer Memorial Scholarship by the new mural.

POTSDAM, NY (06/30/2011)(readMedia)-- The Potsdam High School Artistic Congress recently presented a check for $2,000 to SUNY Potsdam Distinguished Teaching Professor of Art Caroline Downing to benefit the Katya Czerepak Greer Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship fund will assist art education students at SUNY Potsdam.

The group raised the funds from a number of activities, including an art auction held at the Creative Spirit Art Gallery in Potsdam in May. The check was presented at the dedication of a mural at the high school created by art students in memory of their teacher, Mrs. Greer.

In attendance to view the mural and receive the check were Katya's husband, Chad Greer; Caroline Downing; Leslie Sutter, Potsdam High School art teacher and adviser to the Artistic Congress; PHS senior Ellie Hawley, president of the student group; Katya's father, Otto Czerepak, and Superintendent Patrick Brady.

Katya Czerepak Greer was a 2002 graduate of the SUNY Potsdam art history program and an art teacher at Potsdam High School. Sadly, Katya passed away in 2009. Mark Huff, chair of SUNY Potsdam's art department, along with Downing, are spearheading the effort to endow the fund in her honor to provide an annual scholarship to a SUNY Potsdam student pursuing a degree in art education. For information about the scholarship fund, please contact Nancy Griffin at (315) 267-2112 or griffine@potsdam.edu.

To learn more about SUNY Potsdam's acclaimed art program, visit www.potsdam.edu/academics/AAS/Art/index.cfm.

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Founded in 1816, and located on the outskirts of the beautiful Adirondack Park, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America's first 50 colleges. SUNY Potsdam currently enrolls approximately 4,350 undergraduate and graduate students. Home to the world-renowned Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam is known for its handcrafted education, challenging liberal arts and sciences core, excellence in teacher training and leadership in the performing and visual arts.

-www.potsdam.edu-