JONI ROBERTS MEMORIAL G.H.S ARTS SCHOLARSHIP ANNOUNCED
GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. (May 9, 2017) – Friends and relatives of the late Joni Roberts have announced a new scholarship that will be awarded to a worthy graduating senior at Guntersville High School; the Joni Roberts Memorial Art Scholarship.
The annual scholarship was created in honor of Mrs. Roberts by her friend, Ginger Lashley, and her husband, Tom Roberts. Mrs. Roberts, a resident of Guntersville since 1990 and employee at the Marshall County Health Department, lost her courageous battle with lung cancer on April 12, 2016.
“Joni was so talented in her craft working with stained glass and glass etching,” said Val Jones, the visual arts teacher at Guntersville Middle School and Guntersville High School. “We became great friends and actually went to an art conference together in Gatlinburg when she was getting really entrenched in it. By the second day, I honestly thought Joni knew as much about the art as the instructors. She also made significant donations of her time along with supplies to our efforts through the years. Joni was such a giving person – so pleasant to be around -- and I am so proud that we now have a scholarship in her honor.”
“Joni was my best friend,” said Mrs. Lashley. “She was so talented and had such a positive impact on so many people. She was godmother to my kids and I wanted to do something special to keep her memory alive. I knew how much art meant to her. She enjoyed making her unique stained glass and etched glass pieces and giving them as gifts. They are certainly prized keepsakes now. She even did work that is seen every day at the (St. William) Catholic Church here in Guntersville. My granddaughter is benefitting from Joni’s contributions of supplies even today. It’s only fitting to see that through this scholarship she will continue to help talented youngsters for years to come.”
“Joni was passionate when it came to working with stained glass and in glass etching,” Mr. Roberts said. “She had numerous projects on the backburner that she hoped to complete when she retired at the health department. Unfortunately, she never got that opportunity. We established and maintain a website in her honor (www.JoniStrong.org) that continues to show what a special person she was, while at the same time support St. Jude.“
“Joni was a military brat personified,” Mr. Roberts added. “She was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and spent her younger years in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She actually graduated from high school in Frankfurt, Germany. But when we moved back to Guntersville, this became her hometown in her heart and she was quick to tell you that. She loved living here and wanted to contribute to our community in any way possible. She would be honored by Ginger’s kind gesture in creating this scholarship and I am, too.”
The inaugural Joni Roberts Memorial Art Scholarship will be presented during the Senior Awards and Scholarship Program Night set for Thursday, May 18, in the G.H.S. auditorium.
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Caption for photo: The annual Guntersville High School Joni Roberts Memorial Art Scholarship is announced by (left to right) Ginger Lashley of Guntersville, Val Jones, visual arts teacher at Guntersville Middle School and Guntersville High School and Tom Roberts of Guntersville. Mr. Roberts is holding on to one of the late Mrs. Roberts’ renderings named “Kermit.”
