Last Updated on September 28, 2006 by Paulette Brown-Hinds
ALHAMBRA
By Earl Heath
Baldwin School of Alhambra hosted the first annual 2006 Champion of the Arts Award.
The inaugural award was presented to Tim Woods, III, NASCAR Celebrity Driver, known for his heavy community involvement. Woods is one of the few African-American drivers with NASCAR.
“It’s my idea to take these elements that we are alike. Like music, like dance, like sports”, said Woods. It’s great to be recognized by you all he told the audience of eight hundred middle schoolers.
Woods was there to keep the idea of sports and arts alive in education. That winning edge, staying on top, not losing and staying ahead, these are some of the reasons Baldwin School had Woods come to be honored.
Kira Soltanovich, who appeared on ‘Girls Behaving Badly’ and the ‘Tonight Show’, shared that during school she was involved in playing many instruments and was able to get involved in drama. “They (teachers) let me play a cello and they let me perform in plays,” said Soltanovich. Her education paved the way for her career.
On behalf of Martha Baldwin and the drama program, ‘Drama in the Middle’, Woods was presented with the very first Champion of the Arts Award. “I believe in arts in my education because it helps strengthen my math, history, science and language arts,” said 12 year-old Amanda Cedros.
Woods pointed out that in education as well as NASCAR it is a team effort to make it all come together and work. He drives a car but there are sponsors, artists, mechanics, marketing, promotions and many others who make the race come together. In education you have your School Board, administration, teachers and students to make it work so one day they [students] will be able to help in any one of these areas.
Woods was also presented with several other awards including ‘Revving up for Success’ and one from the Alhambra Mayor Mark Paulson.
Baldwin School has received the California Department of Education Title I Academic Achievement Award for five consecutive years beginning in 2002. The school also received a 2006 California Distinguished School Award.