Putegnat: RGV Philanthropic Foundation was honored to sponsor 2024 Texas Young Masters

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The Rio Grande Valley Philanthropic Foundation (RGVPF) was honored to be the presenting sponsor of the 2024 Texas Young Masters.

A joint program between the Texas Cultural Trust and the Texas Commission on the Arts, Texas Young Masters awards scholarship grants to talented young artists in music, theatre, dance, visual arts, literary arts, and other artistic disciplines.

There were fifteen 8th through 11th grade students who received this prestigious award along with a $10,000 scholarship grant (each) to further their studies and development in their artistic disciplines.

I’m so excited and proud to share that out of the 15 students statewide, two of the students were from the RioGrandeValley. We are so proud of these two amazingly talented students:

Madelynn Gonzalez (Musical Theatre) – 11th grade, Saint Joseph Academy, City of Brownsville, Texas.

Adrianna Rodriguez (Theatre) – 11th grade, Harlingen High School – South & a member of the Harlingen Performing Arts Conservatory, City Of Harlingen, Texas.

As a board member of RGVPF, I was thrilled that our foundation was the presenting sponsor and in so being, we were able to financially support both Madelynn and Adriana in their artistic endeavors. The mission of the RGVPF is to improve the quality of life for people in our region by promoting philanthropy, building permanent charitable endowments, addressing community needs, and facilitating opportunities in the areas of art and culture to spur cultural tourism and further contribute to the the economic development and vitality of our region.

Attending this event made me reminisce… I danced for 26 years, and as a young dancer I didn’t have the financial resources, access, or the awareness of such programs. I know there were many missed opportunities. I will steal a quote from my good friend, Nolan Perez, M.D.: “Talent is universal. Opportunity is not.” It’s up to us to help create opportunities for the next generation and to share news about existing opportunities and resources with others. Knowledge is power, and the application of knowledge powerful.

Lastly, I know not everyone is an arts enthusiast; we all have different interests and passions. But regardless of whether you are or aren’t, the arts and culture play a vital role in business and economic development. They foster creativity, innovation, and a sense of community. Businesses benefit from the creative thinking and problem-solving skills that exposure to the arts can cultivate in employees.

Moreover, a vibrant cultural scene not only enhances a community’s identity, but it also attracts talented individuals and it drives tourism, further spurring economic growth. Investing in the arts and cultural initiatives contributes to a region’s overall quality of life, making it a more attractive place to live, work, and do business. Huge thanks to all who support the arts and cultural initiatives.

Editor’s Note: The above guest column was penned by Lizzy de la Garza Putegnat, a board member of the The Rio Grande Valley Philanthropic Foundation. The column first appeared on de la Garza Putegnat’s LinkedIn page. The 2024 Texas Young Masters event was held at the Zach Theater in Austin on April 16, 2024.

2024 Texas Young Masters from the Rio Grande Valley

Adrianna Rodriguez (Theatre) is an 11th grader at the Harlingen Performing Arts Conservatory. She is part of the speech and debate team, where she is nationally recognized for her champion titles in Dramatic Interpretation and Duo Interpretation. Adrianna also competes in UIL One-Act Play and UIL Poetry, where she won the State Contest for 5A in both categories in 2023. She plans on using her Young Masters award to attend the Circle in the Square Theatre School summer intensive in New York City.

Madelynn Mircelle Gonzalez (Musical Theatre) is an 11th grade student at Saint Joseph Academy in Brownsville. She has been receiving musical theatre instruction from her director, Chris Ikner, for the past eight years. Her most recent accolades include: Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) One Act Play District Competition – Best Actress, District Champions, and All Star Cast; Broadway World 2021 Regional Award – Best Supporting Performer in a Play; Palm Awards – Best Supporting Actress in a Play; and TAPPS Team Dance Competition – State Champions. In 2022, Madelynn was awarded the Andrew Lloyd Webber Initiative Training Scholarship, which she used to attend the Southeastern Summer Theatre Institute. In 2023, she trained at the Summer University Theatre Experience, attended a dance intensive at Steps on Broadway with Mike Baerga, and completed a master class in New York City with Jacob Ryan Smith. Madelynn plans to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts in musical theatre and aims to work as a professional stage performer on Broadway.