Young Audiences of Houston Will Honor The Boeing Company, Dr. William Cohn in May

Young Audiences of Houston will honor the innovative spirit of The Boeing Company and Dr. William Cohn its gala, Disco Galaxy Soiree, on May 7th, 2015.

As we move into 2015, we recognize an important new force in art education, the STEM-to-STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) Movement. We recognize incredible innovations are produced when arts are integrated into traditional STEM fields. As we move toward this renewed focus, we want to honor pioneers in this integration.

Our two Gala Honorees for 2015 are The Boeing Company and Dr. William Cohn. The Boeing Company, holding fast to a long tradition of leadership and innovation, has been a strong supporter of Young Audiences and exemplifies creativity and innovation as a local community leader. We honor them for their special partnership especially as we approach a new way of thinking about arts education.

Dr. William E. "Billy" Cohn, MD, a surgeon and strong supporter of arts education, is also living out the ingenuity in technical fields embraced by STEM-to-STEAM. His art goes beyond his local blues performances into his work in the medical field, where he holds numerous patents, including one he holds as co-inventor of the continuous-flow artificial heart, which saves and improves many lives.

They join an impressive group of past honorees of Young Audiences of Houston, which have included Mark Wallace, CEO of Texas Children's Hospital and Dr. Stephen Klineberg of Rice University's Kinder Institute for Urban Research.

Young Audiences of Houston will also present the 2015 Arts Empowerment Award to HISD's Young Women's College Preparatory Academy and Mickey Leland College Preparatory Academy for Young Men, recognizing these schools' ambitious vision in their STEM-to-STEAM partnership with Young Audiences of Houston. These campuses, formerly operated with strictly STEM curriculum have nurtured increased creativity, teamwork, innovation, and determination among its inner-city students through the creative addition of arts-integrated programs into their curriculum. These entities represent what we believe is an important progression in the way we approach art-infused learning and creativity. Building on a strong tradition of honoring these exemplary schools, the Arts Empowerment Award was received in previous years by the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and Lovett Elementary.

Disco Galaxy Soiree Host Committee: Allison Potts Anderson, Elaine Anderson, Austin Baltes, Leslie & Jack Blanton, Jr., Minnette Boesel, Sharon Bryan, Margaret & Jim Buescher, Tanisha & Paul Cannings, Jr., Bob & Mary Kay Casey, Juan (Tony) Castilleja, Jr., Rachel & Mark Cueva, Catherine Dameris, Sarah & Thad Dameris, Steve & Jennifer Dolman, J. Todd Frazier, Anne & David Frischkorn, Beatrice & Gregory Graham, City Councilman, Larry Green, City Controller, Ronald Green, Joanie Haley, Denise Hazen, Don & Gillian Hobson, Dana Kantalis, Patti Keplinger, Jared & Caroline LeBlanc, Katina & Vasili Mathews, Christopher McClendon, April & Wells McGee, Kris & Richard McGee, Susan & Edward Osterberg, Gary Patterson & Jeff Meadows, Blake Perrin & Jennifer Tashman, Nic Phillips & Winnie Simmons, Rebecca Sheinberg, Ellen C.L. Simmons, Jennie Szeto, Pamalah and Stephen Tipps, Faye Volcy, Mr. and Mrs. Steven Weil, Sr., Beth & Jim Wiggins

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