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2020 North America Wales Foundation Scholarship & Grant Awards

9/16/2021

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Lloyd Jones Award
  • Elliot Goddard is an Industrial Design student from Bangor University. He is designing and manufacturing a sea kayaking wing paddle specific to the ‘Rockpool Taran’ Kayak, that must be robust and reasonably priced.
 
  • Lois Gwenllian Griffiths is a Product Design student from Bangor University. She is working to expand The Calendar King product/service range into app design to help Firecracker Design and Print keep up with increasing competition.
 
Grants
  • Peniel Welsh Chapel Association in Ripon, Wisconsin, will receive a full grant of $1000 to be used towards the cost of exterior renovations to the building.
  • Mari Morgan will receive a full grant award of $1000 towards publication of her PhD thesis on Welsh-American composers Daniel Prothero and Joseph Parry. The work is titled Braids of Song ~ Gwead y Gan and is to be released in the United States. This award is contingent upon the acquisition of additional funding towards publication costs.

Exchange Scholarship
  • Brooke Martin will receive the $5000 award to continue her PhD studies on Welsh opera at Bangor University. She has recently made great progress and new discoveries in the area of Welsh musicology, uncovering several Welsh and Welsh-American composers whose music output had not been uncovered.
  • Andrew Edwards will receive a $5000 award to continue his studies in Welsh at Bangor University. He will begin writing his BA dissertation on the abolitionists of German and Welsh communities in America before and during the Civil War and the radical beliefs of both groups expressed in the German and Welsh newspapers of the time.
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2019 North America Wales Foundation Scholarship & Grant Awards

9/16/2021

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NAWF Grant Award 2019
  • The Avondale Mine Disaster Preservation Committee will utilize NAWF funding to hold the 150th anniversary of the Avondale Mine Disaster on September 6-8, 2019. The Avondale disaster, which occurred in 1869, stands as the one of the deadliest anthracite mining disasters in history, with 110 victims, 69 of which were of Welsh descent.  Ceremonies will be held at the disaster site in Plymouth Township and at the Washburn Street Cemetery. A full conference will be held at the Anthracite Heritage Museum as well, with featured speakers Professor Bill Jones and Professor Richard Healey, both from the UK.
  •  Rimrock Opera Foundation utilized funding from NAWF to support the considerable expense to mount the American production of Joseph Parry’s opera, Blodwen, which was performed in Welsh from May 11-19, 2019, at the NOVA Center for the Performing Arts in Billings, Montana. Welsh native, Dr. Dulais Rhys, adapted the opera for chamber ensemble, and conducted the orchestra. Blodwen has already received universal praise for its creation and performance. Dr. Rhys hopes to find other venues in North America for the opera.
Lloyd Family Travel Scholarship 2019
  • Hope Kohtala (Received the Lloyd Family Travel Scholarship + partial Exchange Scholarship) from Mechanic Falls, Maine, spent spring semester 2018 studying at Bangor University and realized how similar Wales and Maine were in physical beauty and cultural experiences. She earned her BSc in Parks, Recreation and Tourism at University of Maine and will continue studies towards her MA in Tourism at Bangor University. Building upon her previous research project from her study abroad experience, Hope will compare similarities and differences between New England and Wales in the seasonal tourism industry.
Exchange Scholarships 2019
  • Rebecca Blok from Kalamazoo, Michigan, will study at Bangor University towards her MA in Welsh. In preparing for her thesis, Rebecca will identify the complex structure of the Four Branches of the Mabinogi and how this structure communicates the message of the work as a whole.
  • Brooke Martin from Clarkesville, Georgia, continues her studies, now towards a doctorate, at Bangor University, researching contemporary minority and Welsh-language opera. In the summer of 2018, she presented two papers, one at Wales Research Conference and the other at NAASWCH. Brooke has become a fluent Welsh speaker; this past March competing for the Chair in Eisteddfod y Dysgwyr (Learners) and was placed third. he Year. 
  • Kelsey Weber from Portland, Maine, received her BFA in Ceramics from the Maine College of Art. Her next step is to complete a Masters in Ceramics at Cardiff Metropolitan University, researching the history, myths and folktales of Maine and Wales to find commonalities and historical links. She will then illustrate these tales on pottery.
  •  Andrew Edwards from Zeeland, Michigan, continues his studies in Welsh Literature at Bangor University. He is passionate about his Welsh heritage and has fallen in love with Wales and the beautiful Welsh language. Andrew has become a fluent Welsh speaker and his courses are in the Welsh language. He has received much attention from the Welsh media as an American thriving in Wales.
  • Hope Kohtala-(Lloyd Family Travel Scholarship + partial Exchange Scholarship) see above.
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Rebecca Blok with Hefina Phillips
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Brooke Martin with Philip Davies
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Kelsey Weber
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Hope Kohtala
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Andrew Edwards
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2018 NAWF Scholarship & Grant Awards ~ North American Students

9/16/2021

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NAWF Grant Awards 2018
  • Slate Valley Museum, Granville, NY. Concerts and lectures featuring Welsh musical performances and history
  • Congregants of the Welsh Church New York, NY. Casting and professional direction of a community reading of Dylan Thomas’s Under Milk Wood.
  • Gwenan Davies, Abergele, Wales. An artist studying for her Master of Fine Arts at the Milton Avery Graduate School of the Arts at Bard Co.
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  • Mackenzie Hornsby, Rio Grande, Ohio. Study Performing Arts at the University of Wales Trinity St David’s Carmarthen.    
Mackenzie's Blog
Lloyd Family Travel Scholarship 2018
  • Anna King- Guysville, Ohio. Inspired by her grandparents, she will research the creation, documentation, and history and of Welsh lovespoons. Department of Fine Arts Trinity St David’s University Swansea Campus.    
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Anna King
Exchange Scholarships 2018
  • Andrew Edwards - Zeeland, MI. Pursuing a degree at Bangor University, majoring in Welsh, Intercollegiate Welsh Learner of the Year.
  • Coral Lumbley - Champaign, Illinois- Doctoral studies on Medieval Welsh Culture and Literature. Intensive Welsh language course at Aberystwyth University
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James Sevitt
  • James Sevitt - City University of New York. Doctoral research examining how individuals in Merthyr Tydfil are experiencing and coping with long-accumulating divisions and inequalities, recently exposed and exacerbated by Brexit.
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Jonathan Morgan Receives Ivorite Award

1/1/2020

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PictureJonathan Morgan is pictured (right) receiving the award from NAWF Vice President Prof. Jon Roper.
Jonathan Morgan has been awarded the Foundation’s Philanthropic Order of True Ivorites award in recognition of his long service supporting our work.  A former member of the Foundation’s Wales Board for over twenty years, he was an indefatigable fund raiser and organiser of special events until his retirement last year.

Educated at Christ College, Brecon; the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst; Aberystwyth and Glamorgan Universities, Jonathan is a former lecturer at the now Cardiff Metropolitan University and author of several books including The Welsh Warrior Through the Ages (2016) and The Tragedy Of War, Essays on the Welsh War Poets (2014).  His book Rags to Riches: Entrepreneurs of Welsh Origin (2010) reflects his long standing interest in links between Wales and America.

The original Ivorite Order was a friendly beneficial society established in Denbighshire in 1836 by Robert Jones with the motto Cyfeillgarwch, Cariad a Gwirionedd (Friendship, love and truth). It prospered on both sides of the Atlantic and was active in America until the late 1900s. It was revived by the NAWF in 2006 to honour Welsh and Welsh-Americans who epitomise the ideals of the original Ivorites.
 


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NAWF Sends Young Welsh Actress to California

6/5/2019

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On a sunny day in West Wales. Student Amelia Williams received her bursary cheque from NAWF Vice President Prof Jon Roper and said it would help her chase her dreams.  Amelia is studying BA Acting at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s and has been accepted by California State Fullerton for a study abroad module.

 “I am so excited at the prospect of living and studying in California. It will be an amazing experience and I will have the opportunity to study modules that aren’t available here.  I am particularly interested in scriptwriting for example, and hope in the future to write and produce Welsh dramas.”

 Amelia, who hails from Llanelli, is the first member of her family to study at University and admits that she was nervous about the financial commitment of studying so far away from home.

 “It’s certainly a long way away and the trip is expensive to fund so I was delighted to be awarded a NAWF bursary.  It will cover the costs of my flights and help with other things so it is amazing. I am so grateful”.

 The NAWF Wales board was unanimous in selecting her application, and particularly impressed at Amelia’s ambition to teach a “Welsh word of the Day” to her fellow students.  

 “I am proud of being Welsh and Welsh speaking.  I know the American students we have had here have been amazed to find out there is a Welsh language that is spoken day to day and fascinated by our ancient history.  I’m hoping to take a bit of that out with me to show others and I;m already thinking about a Welsh night."

 Jon Roper, who made the presentation, said he was delighted the NAWF had been able to help Amelia.  “She is exactly the sort of student we wish to support. Amelia's bright and ambitious and enormously proud of her Welsh heritage.  I am sure she has a bright future ahead of her and I am delighted we can play a small part in helping her realise that.”


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NAWF Awards Heritage Medallion to Catrin Brace

9/4/2017

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t is a great pleasure the NAWF has honoured Catrin Brace with the 2017 Heritage Medallion which was presented by NAWF President, Stacy Evans, at the North American Festival of Wales in Rochester, New York on September 1st.

The Foundation chose Catrin as this year’s recipient because of her dedication in promoting business, trade and the arts for Wales and the Welsh. 

She was appointed project manager for the Welsh Development Agency’s office in New York in 2002, later transferring to the Welsh Government to represent the Office of the First Minister in North America.

Based on her vision and leadership she established partnerships with hundreds of organizations in Wales and North America. This resulted in a transformative elevation of the recognition of Wales as a nation in North America.

After fifteen years she recently left the post to return to Wales leaving behind her many friends and a significantly heightened profile for all things Welsh in North America.

Read more about Catrin here
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Arvonia Historical Society Receives NAWF Grant

8/28/2017

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The NAWF proudly announces three new grant awards .

Arvonia Historical Sociecty in Kansas is supported to restore its town hall, a vital part of its Welsh heritage.

Welsh actor, Tom Chandler, has been selected to join the American Academy of American Arts' 2017-2018 acting company and has been awarded a grant.

 It has also been decided to help fund James Sevitt, an educator at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, who plans a visit to Cardiff and Merthyr Tydfil in Wales to research the divisions and resentments between metropolitan centres and neglected peripheries following the financial crisis of 2008 and the Brexit vote.

 The picture shows Paula Evans (center) of the Arvonia (Kansas) Historical Society, accepting a check from Hefina Phillips, NAWF Scholarship Chair and Stacey Evans, NAWF President. 

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Record number of US applicants for 2017 NAWF scholarships

7/20/2017

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Every year the NAWF awards scholarships to North American students wishing to study in Wales.  There is an Exchange Scholarship of $5,000 and, thanks to the Lloyd family, a travel scholarship of $1,000.  Grants of up to $1,000 are also awarded to individuals or organizations, all, of course, with Welsh connections, be they cultural, educational or their heritage.  In the past scholarships have been awarded to musicians, historians, linguists, and entrepreneurs.  We have been extremely proud of these young people and they, in turn, are grateful for the support received from the Foundation.

This year the applications for scholarships was overwhelming and the standard of the applicants quite outstanding.  How does one choose a "winner” from such an elite group?   Fortunately this year the Foundation received two unexpected windfalls - via a donation from the Welsh Women's Club of America and from the estate of the late Marjorie Owen.  This enabled us to give not one but three Exchange Scholarships to three outstanding young women.

Elizabeth Green of Pennsylvania, is a superb musician and already enrolled in the Composition programme in Bangor University.  Her goal is to compose for films and art installations and also for ensembles.  She has already composed for a local television company and is currently working on an orchestral work to be performed at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod, bringing together Welsh, American and Taiwanese performers in an expression of peace and goodwill.

Brooke Martin of Georgia, is also a musicologist doing her postgraduate degree at Bangor University, with a focus on Welsh music.  Her passions are reed organs and brass bands.  Her research will focus on the impact of brass bands on the mining town of Wales.  She also hopes to nurture the growth of brass bands in the U.S.
Claire Oldfather of Alabama, already a student at Aberystwyth University, is an Archivist focusing on Classics and Folklore and Mythology.  Her major interests are the Arthurian romances, comparing those in Wales, England and France.  Her aim is to read for a Doctorate in Celtic and Mediaeval Studies.  All three of the above are learning Welsh.

The Lloyd family Travel Scholarship is awarded to Keri Lawrence of Ohio.  Keri will study for a term at the University of Wales, Trinity St David's.  Her aim is to connect cultures by developing a website, blog and sketch album in order to guide other students wishing to study abroad in Wales.

This year $2,500 was available for Grants.  These monies were divided between Arvonia Historical Society, Kansas, Tom Chandler, a Welsh actor based in NY City and James Sevitt, an educator researching social injustice and focusing on the post global financial crisis of 2008 and Brexit .  According to James, these events have exacerbated the deep divisions and resentments between metropolitan centres and the neglected peripheries, i.e. the "haves" and the "have-nots".  His research focuses on Cardiff and Merthyr Tydfil.

The Lloyd Jones Award winners are Danielle Williams of Penygroes and Daniel Avis of Llanidloes.  Both are outstanding designers, with Daniel focusing on jewellery and Danielle hoping to design an alternative Oxygen Mask and Nasal cannula.  

We congratulate all of our successful applicants and wish them well. I am certain that you have all been impressed by these winners.  However, our on-going support for worthy North American Welsh students depends totally on our having the necessary finances.  Please consider helping us by donating to our Scholarship Fund.  Please contact Dr. Philip Davies at nwafcymru@gmail.com.

Hefina Phillips-NAWF Scholarship Committee


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June 15th, 2020

9/9/2016

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Grenville Thomas accepts 2016 Heritage Medallion from the North America Wales Foundation..
Calgary presented a very different face for those newly returned from the National Eisteddfod of Wales in Abergavenny. At the western end of the Canadian prairie it has the Rockies as a spectacular background. The city manifests the wealth and prosperity derived from the harvest of the oil from Alberta’s tar sand reserves. However, the atmosphere in the Westin, home to NAFOW for four days, was joyfully and entirely Welsh. After the wonderful opening program on Thursday night it was time for the joint banquet of the WNAA and NAWF on Friday evening.

The banqueting hall was full to capacity and everyone was in a festive mood as the evening opened with the traditional procession of the leaders and guests of the two organizations to the strains of Men of Harlech played by Steve Jensen.  After the Canadian and American national anthems were sung the benediction was given by the Reverend Eirian Wyn Lewis the well-known Baptist minister from Mynachlog Ddu in Wales. Hywel Davies, Past President, WNAA in his familiar role as Master of Ceremonies, introduced the members of the top table. A sumptuous dinner was enjoyed by all before we moved on to the main program of the evening.

The event served to bring to the stage two distinguished individuals, both born in Wales. Grenville Thomas came to accept the Heritage Medallion, NAWF’s highest honor for his contributions as a loyal, passionate and generous Welshman. He is our greatest contemporary explorer, prospector, discoverer and entrepreneur. We honor him most of all for so much that he has given back to his Welsh communities both in Canada and in Wales.  Robert Lewis came to sing, almost entirely in Welsh. His prodigious voice has brought him two of the National Eisteddfod’s most prestigious awards; the Osborne Roberts Blue Riband in 2015 and more recently the Towyn Roberts Scholarship at Abergavenny this summer.

Grenville Thomas was introduced by Merlyn Williams, his dear friend from their childhood in Wales and later in Yellowknife. It was an introduction made with flair and humor permeated by the deep sense of admiration and community that they had shared over the years. To commemorate the occasion Grenville then accepted the Heritage Medallion and plaque from NAWF secretary Philip Davies. Earlier in the day Grenville gave a wonderful seminar when he told his life story, from his childhood in Wales with Merlyn and others to his amazing adventures in Canada and elsewhere. He was introduced at the seminar by another good friend Brian Lewis, and then surrounded and prompted by his Yellowknife friends he regaled us with the enormous achievements and contributions that he has made over the years.  A life worthy of a biography and a movie.

Grenville and Robert’s journeys to Canada and to Calgary happened at very different times and for entirely different reasons. Grenville came soon after graduating in 1964 as a mining engineer from Cardiff University to work at a nickel mine in Sudbury Ontario.
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2016 WNAA - NAWF Banquet

9/2/2016

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Grenville Thomas accepts 2016 Heritage Medallion from the North America Wales Foundation.  Robert Lewis, the 2015 National Eisteddfod of Wales Osborne Roberts Blue Riband Medallist, performs at the Banquet.

Calgary presented a very different face for those newly returned from the National Eisteddfod of Wales in Abergavenny. At the western end of the Canadian prairie it has the Rockies as a spectacular background. The city manifests the wealth and prosperity derived from the harvest of the oil from Alberta’s tar sand reserves. However, the atmosphere in the Westin, home to NAFOW for four days, was joyfully and entirely Welsh. After the wonderful opening program on Thursday night it was time for the joint banquet of the WNAA and NAWF on Friday evening.

The banqueting hall was full to capacity and everyone was in a festive mood as the evening opened with the traditional procession of the leaders and guests of the two organizations to the strains of Men of Harlech played by Steve Jensen.  After the Canadian and American national anthems were sung the benediction was given by the Reverend Eirian Wyn Lewis the well-known Baptist minister from Mynachlog Ddu in Wales. Hywel Davies, Past President, WNAA in his familiar role as Master of Ceremonies, introduced the members of the top table. A sumptuous dinner was enjoyed by all before we moved on to the main program of the evening.

The event served to bring to the stage two distinguished individuals, both born in Wales. Grenville Thomas came to accept the Heritage Medallion, NAWF’s highest honor for his contributions as a loyal, passionate and generous Welshman. He is our greatest contemporary explorer, prospector, discoverer and entrepreneur. We honor him most of all for so much that he has given back to his Welsh communities both in Canada and in Wales.  Robert Lewis came to sing, almost entirely in Welsh. His prodigious voice has brought him two of the National Eisteddfod’s most prestigious awards; the Osborne Roberts Blue Riband in 2015 and more recently the Towyn Roberts Scholarship at Abergavenny this summer.

Grenville Thomas was introduced by Merlyn Williams, his dear friend from their childhood in Wales and later in Yellowknife. It was an introduction made with flair and humor permeated by the deep sense of admiration and community that they had shared over the years. To commemorate the occasion Grenville then accepted the Heritage Medallion and plaque from NAWF secretary Philip Davies. Earlier in the day Grenville gave a wonderful seminar when he told his life story, from his childhood in Wales with Merlyn and others to his amazing adventures in Canada and elsewhere. He was introduced at the seminar by another good friend Brian Lewis, and then surrounded and prompted by his Yellowknife friends he regaled us with the enormous achievements and contributions that he has made over the years.  A life worthy of a biography and a movie.

Grenville and Robert’s journeys to Canada and to Calgary happened at very different times and for entirely different reasons. Grenville came soon after graduating in 1964 as a mining engineer from Cardiff University to work at a nickel mine in Sudbury Ontario.

For Robert 2016 brought the opportunity for his first visit to Canada to share with us his brilliant vocal talents. This, as described in detail elsewhere in this issue by Dafydd Evans, he did in great style accompanied by Steve Jensen. Our story with Robert Lewis begins at the National Eisteddfod in Meifod in 2015 when he won the Osborne Roberts Blue Riband.  For the third year the NAWF offered an opportunity for the winner to come to North America to perform at NAFOW. This allowed Robert to come accompanied by his parents Ian and Ella and girlfriend Charlotte.  Robert received a standing ovation and this was followed by stirring rendering by the audience of Hen Wlad fy Nhadau to bring the formal part of the evening to a close.  Many of us lingered to spend communal time together as seen in the photograph of the friends from Yellowknife. They brought a very special sense of friendship and welcome to the whole Festival.

Both Grenville and Robert left for the United Kingdom shortly after the Festival ended. Grenville travelled on business and Robert to begin his third year of studies at the Guildhall School of Music. We wish them both success in their endeavors, the future of Welsh life wherever they go will be brighter and better for their presence and contributions.
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  • Home
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