National Arts in Education Week: PWCS Arts Programs Turn Passion into Opportunity

For PWCS students, the arts are more than a way to explore creativity. They can open doors to college scholarships, professional careers, and lifelong success. 

As PWCS celebrates National Arts in Education Week, September 13–19, the stories of former students demonstrate how arts education can transform passion into opportunities that shape future success. 

In some cases, those opportunities have translated into scholarships that were worth tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars. For others, arts education became the foundation for a career they never imagined for themselves. 

One example is Troy Phillips, a 2025 graduate of Freedom High School whose future continues to be shaped by music. 

According to Thomas Thorogood, Freedom High band director, Phillips was an outstanding alto saxophone and trumpet player who also arranged music for the school's marching band. His talent and dedication earned him a full scholarship to Jackson State University, where he is majoring in music education and performs as an alto saxophonist in the university's renowned "Sonic Boom of the South" marching band. 

"It has been exciting to see him continue pursuing his passion for music while preparing for a career in music education," said Thorogood. 

Likewise, 2023 Patriot High School graduate John Ross said the encouragement he received from his orchestra teachers motivated him to continue studying music beyond high school. 

"My high school orchestra director really encouraged me to pursue music in college," he said. "The support I was given and the discipline I was taught led to me receiving a generous scholarship and an incredibly valuable college experience filled with music." 

Today, Ross attends the University of Maryland, College Park, where he continues to perform and study alongside fellow musicians. 

"I would have never been able to come here and have this experience if I hadn't received my scholarship, and I ultimately have my time at Patriot to thank for that," he said. 

For Odin Brock, a 2020 graduate of Charles J. Colgan Sr. High School, an interest in dance became a pathway to higher education and a professional career. 

According to Jamie Howes, Colgan High dance teacher, Brock's journey into dance began unexpectedly during his sophomore year when he started spending time in the dance studio after school. Recognizing his natural talent, Howes encouraged him to pursue dance more seriously through Colgan's Center for the Fine and Performing Arts. 

During his senior year, Brock was accepted into George Mason University's highly selective dance program and received scholarships throughout his undergraduate studies. After graduating, he was hired by Parsons Dance in New York City and has since performed professionally, including an international tour in Italy. 

Last year, Brock returned to Colgan to teach a master class in the same studio where his dance journey began, inspiring the next generation of student artists. 

Stories like these represent the lasting impact of arts education. While students develop technical skills in music, theatre, dance, and visual arts, they also build creativity, discipline, perseverance, confidence, and collaboration that serve them long after graduation. 

These skills align directly with the PWCS vision that every student will graduate with the knowledge, skills, and habits of mind necessary to create a thriving future for themselves and their community. 

The achievements of students like Phillips, Ross, and Brock demonstrate that arts education is more than an elective. For many students, it becomes a pathway to higher education, scholarship opportunities, and lifelong success.