Roger Yost Launches Scholarship Program For School Artists

The show involves hundreds of students in Art.

Roger Yost

(SALEM, Ore.) - Salem Downtown Civic Leader Roger Yost, who in the last year has created one of Oregon’s largest art galleries at his Alessandro’s Ristorante, is launching an art scholarship program for Salem high school students.

The first scholarship will be awarded at McKay High School’s eighth annual Student Spring Art Show May 22, at which more than 1000 drawings, paintings, prints, sculptures, photographs and other art forms are exhibited and judged.

He will present a $500 scholarship to the McKay’s “Artist of the Year,” plus $125 in cash prizes to the “Best-in-Show” artists in creativity and craftsmanship.

“It is our intent to make this an annual scholarship at McKay, and expand this “Yost Art Scholars” program to at least one additional high school each year until all area schools are represented.”

He said Rebecca Maitland, director of marketing for Alessandro’s and other Yost properties, will be in charge of the program and its expansion.

Lisa Leirmo, who teaches print-making, mixed media and art history, formulated the first McKay Spring Art Show in 2001. She has since been joined by Autumn Breitwieser, who teaches pottery making and sculpture; John Haus, drawing and painting; and Thomas Douglas, photography.

The show, which covers most of the tall walls of the Lancaster Avenue high school’s Commons area, involves hundreds of students in Art, the Culinary Arts, Music, Theater and Special Education.

Judges for the May 22 show and reception are Peter Stone and Dr. Dan Canon, retired professors from Western Oregon University’s art studies programs.