FORT LAUDERDALE — The Arts for the Future Scholarship Fund recently awarded scholarships to 45 seniors from 13 Broward County Public Schools to help them continue their studies in the visual, performing and technical arts at colleges, universities and educational training institutions.

A community-wide initiative, the Arts for the Future Scholarship Fund promotes artistic career opportunities for graduating seniors.  One of the largest programs of its kind in the nation, the fund has bestowed scholarships to more than 800 talented high school seniors since 1999.

The scholarships are funded by: the Rose Miniaci Family Fund of the Community Foundation of Broward; Joe & Wini Amaturo, the Amaturo Family Foundation; the Broward Center for the Performing Arts; the Rotary Club of Fort Lauderdale/Parker Theatre Performing Arts Scholarships; and M.H. Yager Foundation.

The awards were presented at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts during the16th annual Stars on Parade event that featured outstanding middle and high school performers from the Broward County Public School District.

Marla Vacker Armstrong was honored with the Inspiration Award during the event. Armstrong recently retired as the art curriculum supervisor for the School Board of Broward County, a post she held for 17 years following 18 years of teaching the art curriculum.  Among her accomplishments was being responsible for the art curriculum alignment with CCSS and core content areas.

The Broward Center for the Performing Arts is located in the Riverwalk Arts & Entertainment District at 201 SW Fifth Avenue in Fort Lauderdale.