The Hopewell Valley Arts Council proudly awarded its annual scholarships to two Hopewell Valley Central High School 2026 graduating seniors: Andrew King and Gabriella Procaccini.
For the twelfth year in a row, applicants represented the community’s best and most creative students.
“These scholarships have remained a critical part of our mission since the organization started twelve years ago. Our goal is to encourage creativity in the Hopewell Valley community and foster a lifelong participation in the arts,” said HV Arts Council executive director, Carol Lipson.
Scholarship winners are those who illustrated substantial talent and deep interest in their selected area of study, and a commitment to further their education in any aspect of the arts, including fine arts, performing arts, culinary arts, literary arts, or other forms of creative expression. Both Andrew King and Gabriella Proaccini embody the values of this scholarship.
Andrew King demonstrates both artistic excellence and dedicated community service. An accomplished singer, actor, and student, King has held leadership positions in choir, theater, a cappella, and service organizations. These leadership positions are deeply meaningful to King, who said that “through theater, I have formed strong friendships, learned invaluable lessons from my teachers and peers, and have become a more confident person. I now welcome new students into the program in the same way, hoping they too feel encouraged to express themselves and discover who they are through theater”.
As an actor, King has performed several lead roles in his school drama program and was accepted into Performing Arts Academy (PAA), a rigorous three-year training program at HVCHS. King has also received honors at state, national, and international thespian festivals as part of the CHS Thespian Troupe. In addition to his notable performing arts skills, King’s volunteer work—including raising significant funds for pediatric heart patients through Colin’s Kids—reflects his compassion and community-mindedness. Andrew King will attend Northwestern University in the fall and plans to study Radio/Television/Film.
Gabriella Procaccini has pursued her passion for art and design while also exploring a wide range of interests that reflect her creativity and curiosity. A future student at Parsons School of Design under the New School, she has dedicated herself to fashion and design through sketching clothing designs, creating short-form fashion content, and practicing multiple forms of visual arts, including photography, sewing, ceramics, and painting. Procaccini is also a creative writer, poet, varsity athlete, and HVCHS student ambassador.
At Parsons, Gabriella Procaccini plans to major in Strategic Design as a concentration in fashion, exploring both sustainability in the fashion industry and the ways in which design influences culture. Says Procaccini, “I hope to create new skills that integrate aesthetics with function to make an impact”.
As the HV Arts Council celebrates its 12th anniversary and the opening of its latest initiative, Hopewell Valley Stage, it continues to promote the importance of art in the everyday and encourage the creative endeavors of the Hopewell Valley community.
Though their art and creative perspectives may vary, the 2026 scholarship winners demonstrate a bright future for the arts in Hopewell Valley.
For more information, please see www.hvartscouncil.org.
