April 27 — Coconino Community College to Celebrate Palette to Palate 2018

The event, sponsored by CCC and Findlay Toyota of Flagstaff, begins at 5:30 p.m. and takes place at the Lone Tree Campus, 2800 S. Lone Tree Road. More than a dozen local restaurants will be present to serve up delicious dishes in seeking Palate of Choice Awards in the categories of the best hors d’oeuvre, best dessert and best presentation. More than a dozen pieces of art will be auctioned off during a live auction, and dozens more pieces will be part of a silent auction.

Palette to Palate raises funds for the CCC Fine Arts Department. This year, to support CCC art students, the CCC Foundation Board of Directors recently voted to create an endowment from funds raised by Palette to Palate for two permanent scholarships.

Another goal is to create an endowed chair position to support a full-time art faculty member to benefit of the students.

“Anyone can donate to the fund at any time,” said Scott Talboom, Executive Director of Institutional Advancement for the CCC Foundation. “Endowing a full-time faculty member would be extremely beneficial to the future of the arts at CCC. It will take time to build the fund; however, I believe that with the generosity of our donors, we can make it happen.”

Artwork filled with color and beauty adorns the walls of all of the CCC campuses, much of it created by students. Carrying on that rich tradition in the arts, CCC has hosted Palette to Palate for the last 16 years raising funds that help purchase needed supplies and equipment for students, particularly at a time when funding for community colleges continues to dwindle.

Items funded by Palette to Palate proceeds include a new kiln and hood for ceramics classes, lighting for the art studio, a pug mill that kneads clay for potters to easily use, blinds for the dance studio and scholarships for Fine Arts students.

“Since CCC was formed, art has been truly woven into the fabric at CCC,” Talboom said. “I think what is amazing is the fact that many of the artists who are making a living in Coconino County as artists have either taken classes or earned an associate degree from CCC. I believe it’s a testament to the dedicated full- and part-time staff who have worked at the College the past 26 years.”

Alan Petersen, Art Faculty at CCC, said, “Endowing the scholarship fund creates a support system for our art students that will continue into the future. We would like to thank the CCC Foundation Board for this commitment to our art students.”