News Release

William Scoggan to receive Governor's Arts Award

Nov. 6, 2007

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Ann Dee Lee
Public Information Director
Oklahoma Arts Council
(405) 521-2931
anndee@arts.ok.gov

Oklahoma City, OK – William “Bill” Scoggan, Midwest City, will be honored by Governor Brad Henry at the 32nd Annual Governor’s Arts Awards.  Scoggan will receive an Arts & Education Award which recognizes professional educators who go above and beyond the call of academia to promote arts education for Oklahoma’s students.

Sponsored by the Oklahoma Arts Council, 16 individuals and four organizations will be honored for their contributions to the arts in their communities or throughout the state. The ceremony is scheduled for 4:00 p.m., Wednesday, November 28th in the 4th Floor Rotunda of the State Capitol and is open to the public. Presiding at the ceremony will be Council Chair Jim Tolbert and Interim Executive Director Suzanne Tate.

Everywhere Scoggan has worked in education over the last 43 years, he has promoted and strengthened the arts programs within those schools and communities. As the Superintendent of the Midwest City–Del City School District, he has established music programs in all 17 Mid-Del elementary schools, added major upgrades in instrumental music/band facilities in all three Mid-Del high schools, added fine arts personnel, directed the remodeling of the Del City High School Art Gallery and major renovations for the Carl Albert High School Performing Arts Center.

Scoggan was instrumental in the passage of an $11 million bond issue for what is now the performing arts facility in Chickasha, Oklahoma where he previously served as Superintendent of Schools. He has received the State Superintendent’s Award of Excellence for Fine Arts as a Principal and as a Superintendent. He was recently named the Administrator of the Year by the Oklahoma School Public Relations Association.

A reception on the first floor of the Capitol will follow the 4 p.m. ceremony.  A complete list of Governor’s Arts Awards recipients and their photos are available at www.arts.ok.gov. For more information about the Governor’s Arts Awards, please contact Ann Dee Lee at (405) 521-2931 or at anndee@arts.ok.gov.

ABOUT THE OKLAHOMA ARTS COUNCIL

The Oklahoma Arts Council is a state agency whose mission is to improve lives through the arts by promoting and sustaining the development of a thriving arts environment, which is essential to quality of life, education and economic vitality for all Oklahomans.

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