Kirtland Foundation Announces New Rice Endowment for the Studio Arts
For Kirtland Art Instructor, Scott Rice, family has been his greatest inspiration. His parents, Tom and Sharon Rice, not only encouraged his artistic talents but were pillars in his educational pursuit to become an artist. Tom, a seasoned tool and die skilled laborer, and Sharon, a dedicated teacher for the Central Montcalm Public Schools and the Montcalm Area ISD, ingrained the ideas of compassion, hard work, respect, and core values of being a good person at the same time.
They supported him as he earned his BFA in Illustration at Kendall College of Art and Design. They were a modest family making it possible to attend a private art institution during that time. Then again, as a house fire destroyed the majority of the family’s possessions including Scott’s graduation portfolio, they backed his goal to earn the terminal degree for studio arts, an MFA in painting and drawing, from Central Michigan University.
“Every great artist had someone who created inspiration and nurtured their passion,” Rice said.
Within months of completing graduate school, Scott was hired by Kirtland Community College. This part-time teaching position grew quickly throughout the years to his becoming the lead Art instructor and director of Kirtland’s art department.
Scott’s dedication to and compassion for Kirtland, the art department, and especially his students help make artistic dreams a reality. This was accomplished by staying late in the studio, doing extra preparation for scholarship/transfer deadlines, organizing field trips for inspiration, providing pizza and homecooked meals, or giving financial assistance (out of pocket) for those in need. All of this occurred because of the great values his parents instilled in him throughout his life by witnessing how they helped friends and family in need.
Scott has pledged $30,000 to create this endowment to not only to pay tribute to his parents, for the love and support they have always given him, but to also insure future Kirtland students will always have the encouragement of the Rice family to make their artistic dreams come true.
Listen to Scott Rice’s interview on the Northern Focus radio show, and learn more about art programs at Kirtland Community College and endowments with the Kirtland Foundation.
