As the executive director for San Juan Islands Museum of Art, and someone who is very preoccupied in getting the new visual arts museum built before the year is out, it was a delight to hear about the accomplishments of our high school students who for the third year in a row had the highest score possible on the advanced placement studio art portfolio program.

We look forward to having the students at the local schools involved in the museum, both in terms of education, and the place where they can display their work for the entire San Juan County to enjoy.

In fact, IMA takes a lot of satisfaction in having kept the arts program alive at the elementary school, and was gratified to receive the Community Leadership Award from the Washington Association of School Administrators for these efforts.

I’d like to also take the opportunity to thank our early supporters who allowed us to “jump start” this endeavor and to the follow-up efforts that the association with the San Juan Island Community Foundation has afforded, along with other sources of funding, such as the Washington State Arts Commission, PTA, and Women’s Fund.

There is still a big task in front of IMA, and we need help from the community at large, but the net result is going to be unbelievably exciting!

Charlie Bodenstab, San Juan Island