AMESBURY — Movie stars don't necessarily walk the halls of Amesbury High School every day.
But if there are any aspiring stars in acting, or any other fine art, in this year's senior class, Jeffrey Donovan wants to make sure they have the chances to succeed that he did.
To help that happen, the Hollywood actor, a member of the AHS Class of 1986, pledged a gift to his former hometown that will give aspiring artists a major boost.
Donovan, currently starring in the USA Network series "Burn Notice" and most recently on the big screen in "Changeling," has created a $100,000 scholarship through The Amesbury Educational Foundation Inc. Donovan, who made the surprise announcement Friday, will donate the money over 10 years, giving a $10,000 scholarship each year to a student entering the fine arts.
"It's not necessarily just a college scholarship," said Joan Miller, AEFI president. "It's whatever enables a student to pursue their dream career in the arts, acting, singing, dancing, painting, or any fine art."
AEFI administers and manages the scholarship, which will be based 70 percent on need and 30 percent on talent and desire. Miller said that after this year, the scholarship will also be open to juniors.
"They could use this money for classes or a summer program," Miller said. "Jeffrey did a summer program, which he won through a scholarship and wouldn't have been able to do otherwise. He is very passionate about the fact that he wouldn't have become an actor without that opportunity, and he is very happy to provide that kind of assistance for a student to help them go into the fine arts."
After learning about Donovan's desire to start the scholarship this year, AEFI announced an unnamed scholarship for seniors, who had two weeks to give materials.
Auditions were held last Tuesday, and the finalists were narrowed down to three. The audition tapes and portfolios will then be sent to Donovan, who makes the final decision, which Miller hopes will be announced at graduation on June 5.
"We knew about the scholarship, but the kids didn't know who the donor was," Miller said. "But when he announced it at the assembly and later at the ceremony, everyone else was shocked."
In addition, $18,000 in grants was awarded to teachers at the AEFI seventh annual Hall of Honor Ceremony, which took place Friday. Since 1981, AEFI has awarded more than $120,000 in grants to Amesbury Schools.
Donovan was nominated to the Hall of Honor by his first drama coach, AHS teacher Patty Hoyt.
The Amesbury Schools Hall of Honor has honored 22 people since its inception in 2003, from former students and educators to friends of education. Plaques honoring the recipients are hung in the AHS lobby.
Donovan, along with this year's other honorees, Shawn Talbott, a 1985 AHS graduate and author, researcher and consultant to numerous athletic teams and organizations, and Barbara Bode, friend of Amesbury schools and chairwoman of the high school building renovation committee, spoke to students at an assembly before their induction Friday.
"It was humbling for them to come back, especially Jeffrey and Dr. Talbott, who haven't been back to AHS in 20 years," Miller said. "And the students were just enthralled and so excited to speak to him, take pictures and get autographs."
Short video compilations of each honoree's journey from high school to where they are now, which featured interviews with former teachers and friends, were shown. Then, the honorees spoke to the students about what they do and had breakout sessions, where theater and arts students spoke with Donovan, those interested in sports and fitness spoke with Talbott, and business-minded students spoke with Bode.
"They talk about how they sat where the students were sitting now," Miller said. "At one point, Donovan was the little news reporter at Cashman. The goal was to be a role model for students and push them into working hard for what they want to do."
Visit www.AEFIonline.com for more information about the event.
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