Apanay has served on the boards of Arts Clayton and Clayton County Chamber

of Commerce, and is an emeritus trustee of the Clayton College & State

University Foundation. He was the catalyst for revitalizing Cultural Crossroad

(slated for this September at Clayton State), which recognizes artistic diversity

in the community and which now provides the funding to support the scholarship.

Apanay, in partnership with the Clayton/Henry/Fayette Medical Society, became

the first sponsors of Cultural Crossroads and their contribution has been

the springboard needed to cultivate the event.

"With this partnership [Clayton County School System, Clayton State,

the Medical Society, along with Arts Clayton], we have been able to grow

the scholarship year after year," said Linda Summerlin, executive director

of Arts Clayton. "As an arts council, this is an excellent way to share

our vision with the community and to support our students as they become

more successful and productive citizens."

Lovejoy AP music theory instructor John L. Oden recommended Vinot for the

Arts Clayton scholarship earlier this year and Lovejoy's director of orchestra

studies, Jennifer Floyd, nominated her.

"Christel has excelled in AP Music theory this year, demonstrating

keen musical ability and compositional skill," said Oden. "[She]

frequently expands on her classroom work through independent composition

and work that enhances her classroom experience."

"I have found Christel to be not only highly motivated and to have

a great personality, but also to be very intelligent and perceptive in discussing

both music and general matters," added Floyd. "[Her] talents are

not only known at Lovejoy, but countywide."

Vinot is the county winner for composition in the PTA Reflections Musical

Composition Competition; she has been a member of the Spivey Chamber Workshop

all four years of her high school career, and a pit member of the Clayton

County All Star Musical "Annie."

"Christel demonstrates a deep commitment to her music and composition

through daily work and her excellent demonstration of compositional as well

as performance skills," continued Oden.

"I've dedicated the last seven years of my life to music," said

Vinot. "I've always enjoyed playing the cello and [I] put my heart into

it. In the last two years all my free time has been spent on writing music.

I want to pursue music composition as a career. Two things in specific I

would like to get into are film and video game music."

"I fully believe in Christel's potential and her prospects for finest

success as a musician and composer," added Floyd. "I believe that

the combination of her musical attributes and her fine playing musicianship

will not only be effective within a musical environment, but will set a wonderful

role model for students like herself."