Scholar Films
Harun's most recent film, In the Name of the Son, is based on his experiences growing up in wartime Bosnia
Scholar Performance
Tessa was featured with her chamber group on the national radio program 'From the Top'.
Kristina Cooper
My goal is to introduce all children to both the visual and performing arts through public education and to increase the presence of the arts in every community."
- Alumni of: 2002 Graduate Scholarship Program
- Resides: Columbia, SC
- Hometown: Anderson, SC
- Age: 30
- Four-year College or University: University of South Carolina
- Graduate School: New York University
- Academic/Career Pursuits: Lawyer / Legal Scholar, Nonprofits, Public Policy
- Other Interests: Honor Society, Leadership Development, Performing Arts / Theatre, Dance
Biography
When Kristina entered college, she says she defined success in terms of money and respect-and she planned to become a corporate lawyer. But her goals changed as she discovered her true passion and came to redefine success as "making a positive contribution in your community while being able to do what you love."
Dance has been in Kristina's life since childhood. She was raised by her mother, whose career forced several moves. Her mother quickly registered Kristina in classes in each new town, recognizing, as Kristina did in retrospect, that dance was a much-needed constant and a positive outlet.
Before her junior year in college, Kristina received an internship at the Times Square Business Improvement District and was accepted in the Joffrey Ballet Summer Program. She chose the internship, thinking she was focusing on "the real world." She learned about the non-profit sector and returned to school to devote herself to academics and campus leadership activities. And although she still danced every day, she never realized just how much dance was a part of her life until she thought she twisted an ankle and faced the possibility of losing dance.
With that realization, Kristina decided to spend her life exposing people to the arts and giving them the opportunity to experience it for themselves. As she says, "Every person should have the opportunity to go to the theater, attend a dance performance, and stroll through an arts museum, without regard to economic status or geographic location."
The next summer, she returned as a consultant for the Taste of Times Square, responsible for coordinating the timing of all aspects of production, managing staff and volunteers, communicating with restaurant owners, dealing with sponsors, and working with the press. Kristina spent the fall semester of her senior year in an independent study program in dance at the Alvin Ailey School, studying ballet, Horton, pointe, jazz, and West African techniques.
All of these experiences pointed Kristina towards a master's in public administration in preparation for managing a non-profit arts organization or working in a government position advocating the importance of the arts. She says, "With my academic background and professional and artistic experience, I am confident that I can help shape the future of arts education and arts organizations."
Other Scholars Like Kristina
Ann Lam
Graduate Scholar
Purchase College, SUNY
Miza Moreau
Graduate Scholar
University of California-Berkeley
James Soland
Graduate Scholar
Stanford University
Katherine Blair
Graduate Scholar
Harvard University