News Release
Jerry Speck 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 – Jerry Speck, Antlers, will be honored by Governor Brad Henry at the 32nd Annual Governor’s Arts Awards. Speck will receive a Community Service Award which recognizes individuals for significant contributions to the arts in specific Oklahoma communities in the areas of leadership and volunteerism.
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.
Speck has lived in McCurtain County all his life and has worked with youth in Pushmataha, Choctaw and McCurtain Counties encouraging their involvement with the arts. In addition to serving as a Board Member of PUSH for the Arts Council (PAC) where he leads, organizes and empowers communities to conduct summer arts camp, he has been actively involved with the Idabel Regional Arts Council for the past 12 years. Employed by the Oklahoma State Department of Health in Pushmataha County, he works as a Preventive Medical Consultant and is the Program Director for a youth tobacco prevention program.
Speck graduated with a Masters of Administrative Studies from Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant. He participates in numerous community led coalitions and committees including the Pushmataha County Summer Arts Program, Boswell Fit & Fun Arts Camp, Clayton A.B.C. Arts Camp, Dogwood Days Festival, FallFest and the Choctaw County Coalition.
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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