Trent Fine Arts Scholarship Fund

Trent Fine Arts Scholarship Fund

The Trent Fine Arts Scholarship Fund is established to promote interest in the fine arts, and to benefit a LakeCity graduate who chooses fine arts as his/her major field of study. Only graduates of LakeCityHigh School may apply for the scholarship.

Consideration for awarding the scholarship is determined by the following information, to be provided by the applicant:

1. Cover sheet giving applicant’s full name, parents’ names, applicant’s home address and phone number. Also include date of high school graduation, and name and location of college.

2. Copy of LakeCityHigh School transcript with grade point average and listing of classes.

3. Written proof of acceptance to a college or university with a fine arts program.

4. A minimum one page, double-spaced paper giving written intention of study in one of the following fields: visual arts, instrumental music, vocal music, film, photography, dance, drama, or theater (fine arts). This short paper should also include the applicant’s reasons for pursuit of a fine arts degree and any outstanding achievements in that particular field.

5. OPTIONAL: If the applicant wishes, he/she may also include a letter of support for this scholarship from a Lake City High School fine arts teacher.

The above information will be returned in order listed above to the LakeCityHigh School counselor’s office by April 15th.

Scholarship funds will be awarded after the chosen recipient of the Trent Fine Arts Scholarship Fund has completed a minimum of one semester of college and has submitted a copy of his/her most recent college transcript.

The Trent Fine Arts Scholarship Fund

Tom and Vicki Trent have devoted their lives to the promotion of fine arts. It was their love of music and visual arts, of dance and photography that led to the creation of The Trent Fine Arts Scholarship Fund. An integral part of their lives, they combined love of art and love of teaching...

Tom’s fine arts interests began early. As a high school sophomore sax player, he was the school’s soloist of the year. He was accepted into Interlochen’s summer music program for intensive study of the saxophone, and then later returned to serve as a counselor of younger music students.

In his late teens, Tom did weekend gigs with professionals in Chicago, including performing as part of dance bands for weddings and graduations. After graduating from Chicago’s Vandercook College of Music, he began his teaching career in Deckerville, MI as high school band instructor. Later he moved to HaslettHigh School and while serving as high school band instructor there, earned a masters in music education from MichiganStateUniversity. In his spare moments, he also played for the VFW band in Lansing.

In the mid-1960's, Tom accepted the high school band position at Lake City, where he served as band director and later as social studies teacher too. Tom retired in 1995, after 30 years of service to Lake City Schools. During these years, he also was an active member of the Ancient and Honorable Clam Lake Dock and Dredge Marching and Chowder Society Silver Coronet Band, the Dave Lawton’s Big Band in Cadillac, and the Scottville Clown Band. Also, one could often find Tom at Lake City’s famous Willard House, jamming with other “wayward musicians” at their monthly appearances.

Vicki’s fine arts interests also began early on. Enrolled in summer arts and crafts programs as a child, she graduated to sewing – and designing – her own clothes, beginning in early middle school. After an introduction to visual arts in high school, Vicki was hooked, and by her junior year at MichiganState, she had declared art as her major, and was focusing on acrylic painting, charcoal and pastel drawings, sculpture, and pottery.

Her first teaching assignment was at Cadillac Middle School and shortly after, at Cadillac High School, where she taught painting, sculpture, photography, commercial art, and pottery. . Interested in doing something “unusual”, she took a leave of absence to attend the Cleveland Art Psychotherapy Institute, graduating as an art psychotherapist. Her work there included interning at a boys correction facility, a children’s autistic center, and at the city department of alcoholism, working with groups and individuals.

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Later Vicki returned to Cadillac High School, earned a master’s degree in art education from Central Michigan, and continued her varied high school art class programs. After school hours, she took classes herself in ballet, jazz, and tap dancing. Vicki retired in 1998, after 25 years of service to Cadillac schools.

Retirement didn’t slow our fine arts couple down; it just changed their focus. With their careers behind them, they turned to volunteer work that supported fine arts programs. Vicki volunteered as a docent at the DenosArt Museum at NorthwestMichiganCollege. Together, she and Tom volunteered as ushers for student and adult performances at Interlochen.. And for fun, they continued their long-time involvements in photography and ballroom dancing.

Often, Tom and Vicki spoke of setting up a program that would encourage – and assist – young people interested in fine arts. With Tom’s death in 2003, Vicki decided that the time had come. She began efforts to establish a fund for fine arts students that would help them continue the interests that had been so much a part of their lives. This scholarship will continue the couple’s life-long dream of supporting the arts.