SHA Inc held its spring meeting at Southern Heartland Gallery May 19, where scholarships were presented to graduating seniors with career goals in the visual arts.

Brandi Clark and Jessica Jay, both graduates of Newton High School, received the scholarships from SHA's art guild president Beth Bryant, and SHA, Inc. board chair, Jacqueline Kelly.

A special guest at the presentation was Lisa Hayes, who donated seed funding for the James P. Hayes Cardinal Fund within Southern Heartland Arts, Inc., a nonprofit organization benefiting the visual arts in Newton County. The fund provides scholarships not only for graduation seniors accepted to colleges and planning careers in the arts, but also for children from families who need financial assistance to send their children to art camp or for ongoing classes in visual art.

Applications for the scholarship fund may be picked up at Southern Heartland Gallery. Graduating seniors must have a letter of acceptance from the college they plan to attend and a recommendation from their art teacher.