Help Michelle Givens with Governor's School

**UPDATE: Goal reached!!!  Thank you so much for your help.  I cannot wait to go!!

(This fundraiser link will be closed in a couple of days, just long enough for people to have time to view this update.)

My name is Michelle Givens and I have been chosen to represent Gibbs High School at The Tennessee Governor's School for the Arts for Visual Art. Governor's School is held at Middle Tennessee State University from June 3rd to June 25th. This year, I am one of two students from my High School that have been chosen for this honor out of over 650 applicants. A Gibbs High School student has not been accepted since 2019.

While at Governor’s School, I will have the opportunity to learn from professionals that practice under a variety of artistic disciplines which include ceramics, collage, traditional drawing, experimental drawing, painting, metal-working, welding, sculpture, print-making, dark room photography and art history. My time there will culminate in a finale group gallery show at the university. As a developing artist and student, I have shown my work in a handful of exhibitions. I have learned a lot from my art teachers but would love to take part in this once in a lifetime opportunity at MTSU to learn from other working artists and educators. This will also allow me to even further develop a diverse portfolio and knowledge base as I prepare for college, scholarship applications, and portfolio reviews as I strive to get into art school after high school. It is my lifelong passion to have a career in visual art.

While other disciplines of Governor’s Schools in TN are funded by the state, the Governor’s School for the Arts is not and I need some assistance to close the gap. The total cost for me to attend Governors School is $3200. I have been awarded a scholarship in the amount of $1425, and I am trying to raise the rest of the money to attend, which is $1775.

My goal is to raise this money by May 1st. Thank you so much for anything that you can do to help me reach my goal. Any contribution helps greatly!