Donny Osman has announced his retirement as Director of the Governor’s Institute (GIV) on the Arts after more than twenty years of service. His work has impacted the lives of hundreds of students who participated in the “GIV Institute on the Arts” held each summer at Castleton State College in Castleton, Vermont.
“In honor of his legacy, the GIV has announced the creation of the “Donny Osman Scholarship for the Arts Award”, says Jean Olson, Executive Director of GIV. “The Scholarship will be awarded yearly to an artistically and financially qualified student who enrolls in the Arts Institute.”
“It’s an extreme honor to have GIV create a student scholarship in my name,” said Osman. “Through it, more lives can be transformed by the experience of living and studying with outstanding professional artists during this two week Institute.”
Osman served on the Vermont House of Representatives from 1996 to 2002. He received his BA at Goddard College and founded the Two Penny Theater Company in 1973 which performed at the Lincoln Center and at the Eleventh Festival of American Theater in Florence, Italy. He created “The Donny Osman Theater Productions” and taught theatre workshops at public schools, colleges, and community groups throughout the United States and Europe. Osman served as a member of the Vermont State College System, The Vermont Arts Council, the Head Start Policy Council, and the Washington County Mental health Association. He currently is a board member of the Central Vermont Community Partnership and for the Central Vermont Community Action Committee, and most recently served as Director for the Central Vermont Early Childhood Council.
“Experiencing artistic excellence, challenge, excitement, and exploring what it means to ‘be the best they can be’ is what happens during the GIV Institute on the Arts, says Elizabeth Dotson-Westphalen, former student from the GIV Arts Institute who will replace Osman as Director in 2010. She looks forward to witnessing the transformation that occurs when students learn to take risks and try new things including creating giant puppets for the yearly community 4th of July parade!
