Academy President Announces Scholarships for San Francisco Baptist Ministers Conference

Photo by Jose Marco/Gibbons Images.

This audience didn’t applaud. They stood up and “praised the Lord” at the first Annual Grace Grant Musical, held Sept. 25th at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in San Francisco. President Elisa Stephens and Vice President, Community & Government Relations, Rebecca Delgado Rottman were honored for the university’s scholarship support of the SF Baptist Ministers Conference.

In front of more than 100 guests, Stephens announced the Academy would continue to provide the conference with scholarships in the Saturday Art Program and Summer Art Experience, and also provide one 4-year undergraduate degree scholarship in 2011. All told, these scholarships are worth more than $200,000.

“We are thrilled to be able to serve an under-represented community, and to give the children an opportunity to create a better life,” said Vice President Rebecca Delgado Rottman, with Rev. Tim Dews. Photo by Jose Marco/Gibbons Images.

Speaking for the Baptist Ministers of the San Francisco Bay Area Joint Revival Committee, Rev. Tim Dews, Jr., said the Academy’s support comes at a critical moment. “With other schools and colleges cutting back, the opportunities for our children have become slimmer. The Academy of Art University has done the opposite — they’ve reached out to say, ‘We’re here, and we want to give back to the community.’ We often tell our children, ‘Do the right thing, and you’ll be blessed.’ By providing eight young people with scholarships to attend the Summer Art program, their benevolence helped us with that God-given blessing,” he said.

Describing a two-year process that culminated in gaining the scholarships, Dews sounded a stirring note of thanks. “I’m on cloud nine to be able to express the level of gratitude we feel for the Academy’s generosity. We know this is no small thing. The scholarships represent a gift of grace. We have to prepare the pathway for our children. The honey is sweeter when you can taste it, rather than just looking at it on the shelf. These efforts say, ‘It doesn’t have to be a dream — you can make the dream a reality if you apply yourselves.’

Scholarship recipients and their certificates. Photo by Jose Marco/Gibbons Images.

“This is exactly what Richard S. Stephens had in mind when he established the Academy 80 years ago,” Dews said, noting the tradition was passed on to his son Richard A. Stephens when he became president. Now it’s being carried forward by Dr. Elisa Stephens. “In this way, the Academy shows it’s willing to form a partnership with the community. These scholarships give our children real hope.”

The SF Baptist Ministers Conference held the music-filled gospel revival to raise funds to supplement youth programs eliminated from public schools due to budget cutbacks, and to assist families purchasing school supplies for their children.