Friends Of The Arts in Orange Beach Honors Local Student Artists

R. Ken Cooper • May 23, 2026

Local graduating seniors received scholarships to support their next steps in the arts.

Madeline Mattson, Scholarship Chair, Fran Drake & Portia Hollis

Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — Orange Beach’s Friends of the Arts has recognized this year’s scholarship recipients and praised their talent as they prepare for life after high school. The organization supports graduating seniors who plan to continue their education in the arts. The awards highlight student achievement and future promise while reflecting the community's continued support for young artists.

The 2026 scholarships were awarded to graduating seniors in Theatre Art Design and in Music Arts and are meant to help students continue pursuing their artistic passions. The 2026 winners from Gulf Shores were Madeline Mattson in Theater Art Design and Portia Hollis in Music Arts. From Orange Beach, the winner was Paige Lipke in Music Arts.

Portia Hollis & Scholarship Chair Fran Drake

Friends of the Arts thanked Scholarship Chair Fran Drake for representing the organization at local senior awards ceremonies. Fran attended the ceremonies to celebrate the students and recognize their achievements. The group said that Fran's presence helped honor the recipients at an important moment in their academic careers.

Each fall, the Friends of the Arts notifies high schools about its grant program and sets a deadline for applications in early March, giving students time to work on their submissions throughout the school year. Awards are always presented in May during school award ceremonies. In addition to the Theater Art Design and Music Arts categories, available scholarship categories include Visual Arts and Dance.

The Friends of the Arts congratulated the students and expressed great confidence in their futures, saying, “We can’t wait to see what these young artists accomplish next! We are proud to support these talented graduating seniors as they continue to pursue their passions in the arts."

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