GHAA Alumni are a vibrant addition to communities across the country. Every year, 96% of our graduates go on to college or enter professional training programs. Our seniors receive honors and awards like National Honor Society, Scholastic Gold Key Portfolio Awards, Presidential Scholarships etc.

We continue to embrace alumni as vital stakeholders in advancing the mission of the school. GHAA Alumni are encouraged to participate in and support the programs, services and events of the Arts Academy, and to pursue leadership opportunities available in our Parent, Friends, and Alumni Association (PFAA). PFAA members work together to enhance the visibility of the Academy and to plan special events that generate revenue for the school, and to support the efforts of parents of artistically gifted students. PFAA Website: academypfa.org

It is through your ideas, input and feedback that we can continue to celebrate our achievements and provide high quality arts instruction to a diverse body of talented students.

ALUMNI DAY
Each year we invite alumni to come back to the Academy and meet with students. Alumni talk about their experiences since graduating. They show films, field questions and sometimes teach an afternoon class session!

We recognize that alumni seek to reunite with the Academy, and we truly look forward to connecting with you! By completing the Alumni Contact Form we can keep you informed of special events at the Academy and ways in which you can make a difference in the lives of young aspiring artists through the use of your time or by becoming an Academy Donor.

Through your active involvement, we hope that you can serve in the broader community as ambassadors for the Arts Academy and for education in general. If you are seeking ways in which to participate in and support the programs, services and events of the Arts Academy, contact the PFAA or the appropriate GHAA department chair. Your contributions of time, talent and treasure are greatly appreciated!

SUMMARY: CLASS OF 2011 (124 Graduates)

1. Post-graduate plans

• 96% - (120 students) will attend college/professional training programs / (2010 – 96%)
•  4% - 4 students (1- Farmington, 2- Meriden, New Hartford,) will: 1 travel/study; 3 will work.
• 63% enrolled in arts colleges/arts programs (2010 – 60%)

2. Awards

• 3 - National Merit Scholar Semi-Finalists (2010-2)
  
• 2- National Merit Scholar Commendees (2010-1)           
• 1 - National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts (NFAA), Merit
        Finalist
• 0 - Capitol Scholars (top 20% in their class & financial need) (2010-4)
• 0 – Fox Scholar (2009– 1)
• 1 – Valedictorian (2010-1)
• 15% - National Honor Society Members (2010-27%)
• 55% of the class has taken AP courses (2010-50%)
• 3 - Scholastic Gold Key Portfolio Award (2010-0)
• 2 – Scholastic Gold Key Award (2010-1)
  
• 1 – Silver Medal with Distinction, Scholastic Writing Award (2010-0)
• 1 - Superior Musician, Berklee Music Festival
  
• 1 – Outstanding Musician for Combo, Berklee Music Festival
  
• 1 – Very Special Art (VSA) International Young Soloist Award
• 1 – Governor’s Coalition for Youth w/ Disabilities Scholarship (2010-1)
  
• 1 – Reader, Sunken Garden Poetry Festival – Fresh Voices (2010-1)
• 3 – Presidential Scholarships (2010-3)
  
• 1 – Full Scholarship (2010-1)
  

3. Early Decision – 6% (7 students) applied E.D. / (2010 – 9%, 5-A, 5-D)
   3 Accepted; 4 Denied

4. 1st-Generation College Students - 13% (17 students)  / (2010-13%)
   
   Geographical Distribution of Colleges – 15 States, 1 Foreign Country (2010- 16 states, 1 Foreign Country)
   53 – Connecticut         1 – No. Carolina
   22 – New York          1 - California
   14 – Massachusetts     1 - Tennessee
     7 – Pennsylvania       1 – Rhode Island
     5 – Vermont              1 - Canada
     3 – Illinois                 1 – Washington State
     2 - Virginia                1 – Washington, DC
     2 – Georgia               1 – Maryland

5. Most popular colleges, some firsts, and some surprises

Manchester Comm. - 13        NYU - 2
U. of Hartford – 17                Carnegie-Mellon - 0
UCONN – 4                            Savannah College of Art & Design - 2
Boston University - 2             Emerson – 0

Belmont University – Alexandra Stefano/Music Business
Cornell University – Sheldon Gaskell/English & Creative Writing
Cornish College of the Arts – Sharlaina Lowry/Acting
Fairfield University – Stephen Scappaticci/Biology
McGill University – Scott Bevins/Jazz Performance
Middlebury College – Carolyn Orosz/International Studies & Crative Writing
St. Lawrence College – Alden Ace Clarke-Fisher/Undecided
Shenandoah Univ. – Justin E. Brown/Musical Theater Accompanying; Caroline Zocco/Musical Theater

CREATIVE WRITING MAJORS
University of Hartford
University of Vermont/English
Manchester Community College/Culinary Arts
Marlboro College/History
University of Hartford/Physics
Manchester Community College/Graphic Design
Cornell University/Eng. & Creative Writing
Simmons College/Sociology
Lesley University/Expressive Arts Therapy &
Hampshire College/Psychology
St. Joseph College (CT)/Child Studies & Elem. Ed.
Wheaton College (MA)/Psychology
Manchester Community College/Nursing
The School of Visual Arts/Comp. Animation
Middlebury College/Internat’l Studies & Cr. Writing

DANCE
Long Island University, Brooklyn/Dance
University of the Arts/Dance
Paul Mitchell/Cosmetology & Fashion photo
University of Rhode Island/Nursing
Fashion Institute of Technology/Fashion Merchandising
University of Hartford/Elementary Education
Morgan State University/Marketing & Internat’l Business
Central CT State University/Dance & Business
Temple University/Dance & Sociology
California Institute of the Arts/Dance
Gap Year/Traveling with a studies program
Johnson State College/Psych. & Art Therapy
Connecticut College/Dance
University of the Arts/Ballet

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC
McGill University/Jazz Performance
Shenandoah Univ, Shenandoah Conservatory/Musical Theater Accompanying
St. Joseph College (CT)/Nursing
University of Hartford, Hartt/Jazz Studies
Manchester Community College/Music Ed.
University of Connecticut/Music Ed.
Eastern CT State University(Pending)/Business & Music
University of Hartford, Hartt/Music Prod. & Tech.
Manchester Community College/Criminal Justice
Western CT State University/Jazz Studies
Western CT State U./Music Performance
Western CT State U./Music Education
Berklee College of Music/Writing for Film or Sound Engineering
Berklee College of Music/Songwriting & Mus. Bus.
U. of Hartford, Hartt/Jazz Studies
Purchase College/Performance & Production
Manchester Community Coll./Music Education
Manchester Community. Coll./Pre-Law
U. of Hartford, Hartt/Jazz Performance
Central CT State University
University of Hartford, Hartt/Performance
Belmont University/Music Business
University of Rochester/English & Music
Five Towns College

VOCAL MUSIC
Manchester Community College/Criminal Justice
Manchester Community College/Liberal Arts
St. Joseph College (CT)/Nursing
Five Towns College/Vocal Performance
Manchester Community College/Culinary Arts
Five Towns College/Music Business Mgmt.
Central CT State University/Elementary Ed.
University of Hartford, Hartt/Music Management
Berkeley College (NY)/Comp. Info. Systems & Bus.
Middlesex Community College/Human Services
Tech School/Certified Medical Assistant

MUSICAL THEATER
Pace University/Theater Arts & Commercial Dance
Howard University/Sports Medicine
Five Towns College/Musical Theater
University of Hartford, Hartt/Musical Theater
St. Lawrence Univ./Undecided
Gap Year/Working
University of Hartford, Hartt/Musical Theater
Pace University/Acting
Manchester Community Coll./Criminal Justice
University of Connecticut/Acting
Fairfield University/Biology
University of Connecticut/Acting
University of Hartford, Hartt/Musical Theater
Shenandoah University, Shenadoah Conservatory/Musical Theater

TECHNICAL THEATER
Johnson State College/Technical Theater
Manchester Community College/Bus. & Marketing

THEATER
Hofstra University/Communications
Central CT State Univ./Undecided
Pace University/Psychology
University of No. Carolina School of the Arts/Acting
Northwestern Community Coll./Boston U. / Acting
Hampshire College/Psychology & Anthropology
Purchase College/Acting
Messiah College/Education & Theater
Temple University/Communications
Clark University/Psychology
Merit Scholarship, Clark University
DePaul University/Digital Cinema
Cornish College of the Arts/Acting
Pace University/Undeclared
Dean College/Dance
Central CT State U. (Pending) Acting
Pace University Acting
New York Univ., Tisch School/Acting
University of Connecticut Honors Program/Poli Sci & Journalism
New York University, Tisch School/Acting
Boston University/Acting
University of Hartford/Social Work
University of Hartford/Musical Theater
DePaul University/Playwriting

VISUAL ARTS
University of Hartford, Hartford Art School/Illustration
Gap Year/Employment
Pratt Institute @ MWP/Communications Design
Parsons School of Design/Photography
Fashion Institute of Tech/Accessories & Fashion Des.
Wheaton College (IL)/Studio Art & English
Employment
University of Hartford, Hartford Art School/Art Ed.
Manchester Comm. Coll./Graphic Design
University of Hartford, Hartford Art School/Painting
Savannah College of Art & Design/Illustration
University of Connecticut/Business & Chinese
Art Institute of Boston @ Lesley Coll./Photography
College Decision Pending/Illus. & Animation
University of Hartford, Hartford Art School/Studio Arts
School of Visual Arts/Animation & Graphic Des.
Rochester Inst. Of Technology/Industrial Design
Boston University/Painting & Art Education
Savannah College of Art & Design
Montserrat College of Art/Undeclared