“Why me, Lord?” This classic Kris Kristofferson gospel song is how Gayla Jungmeyer describes her reaction when asked to join the board of the Thea Foundation in 2011. “What could I bring to the table?” Jungmeyer wondered, as a board member for an arts foundation when she had little visual arts experience herself, “but it was meant to be and it’s been a great experience.”
A self-professed better listener than speaker (she has a degree in psychology) and someone who prefers not to be the center of attention, Jungmeyer has a warmth and elegance that draws people in. Thea has wisely chosen to not let her stay behind the scenes, electing Jungmeyer as next year’s President of the Board. Described by Thea founder Paul Leopoulos as a “true philanthropist,” Jungmeyer gives from the heart and expects nothing in return.
Besides, you don’t have to be an artist to appreciate art, and Jungmeyer thrives on experiencing art, be it here in central Arkansas or abroad.
“I love the theatre, even when we travel,” says Jungmeyer, “the exposure to a different perspective on the world broadens who you are.”
This is quite a cultured view from someone who grew up in the humble town of Jefferson City, Mo., where her father owned the local Sinclair gas station.
“I would go by his station and he would give me just enough gas to not get in trouble,” Jungmeyer recalls.
This usually led her to McDonalds, the local hangout, and the place where she met husband Dennis when she was 18. The couple moved with son Shawn to North Little Rock for Dennis’ job with the Arkansas Automobile Dealers Association in 1979 and have been entrenched in the community ever since. They are particularly excited by the revitalization of artist businesses along Main Street in the Argenta district, of which the Thea Foundation is a prominent resident.
“When we first moved here in 1979 people never came to this side of the river,” says Jungmeyer. “Now we can stay on the north side of the river and take advantage of the art galleries and restaurants.”
An avid traveler, Jungmeyer began collecting watercolors from her travels. Her house is adorned with pieces from Instanbul, Saint Petersburg, Paris and Helsinki. Her most prized creative possession, however, is a collection of poems written by her grown son Shawn when he was a senior in high school.
“I recently reread them,” she says, “and they were very deep and introspective for an 18-year-old.”
This ability to reach young artists and foster their talent is where Jungmeyer really connects with her work at Thea. She enjoys seeing the impact the organization has on young artists through its educational programs and college scholarship presentations.
“The families come from across the state to present their entries. The students are young, energetic and grateful,” says Jungmeyer.
Thea scholarship recipients are also very fortunate. Thanks to the dedicated work of Thea’s staff, board and volunteers, this program has grown immensely since its inception in 2002, offering $80,000 annually. Thea scholarships are accepted anywhere, and all Arkansas four-year institutions offer matching funds with many surpassing the match.
“The great thing about our scholarship program is that you can come from any school background: public, private, home school or have your GED,” says Jungmeyer. “There’s also no GPA requirement because a lot of times creative people don’t test well.”
This lack of a GPA requirement goes back to the story of Thea and the reason this organization was founded by Paul and his wife Linda in 2001. Thea was a young artist with a bright future. She was also Paul and Linda’s daughter. Her life was tragically cut short at the age of 17, just when her school grades were starting to show a vast improvement. Paul and Linda noticed that with an outlet for her creative expression in her arts classes, Thea had gained the confidence to tackle more traditional school subjects like science and math and was starting to excel in areas where she had typically underperformed.
For this reason, the scholarship application is based solely on a student’s artistic abilities with no GPA or test requirement. Students can also major in any field they choose. The Thea Foundation aims to reward students for their talents and provide a path to college that is not dependent on academic strengths.
High school seniors can apply to six scholarship categories, including: visual arts, performing arts, film, creative writing, poetry slam, and new this year – fashion design.
The scholarships are funded through private donations to Thea and funds raised from the upcoming Governor’s Culinary Challenge (GCC) on April 28. Jungmeyer will be co-chairing the event, which promises to delight all the senses. Guests will enjoy gourmet bites from eight of Arkansas’ most celebrated chefs and a signature cocktail created by two local mixologists. Also, Dr. Danny Fletcher and company will provide live jazz entertainment. Tickets are available for $100 each and 100 percent of the proceeds benefit Thea Scholarships, which in its history has made more than $2.2 million available to Arkansas high school seniors seeking higher education.
For more information about Thea’s scholarship programs or the upcoming GCC, contact Emily Mitchell at 379-9512 or visit TheaFoundation.org or GovernorsCulinaryChallenge.com.
Governor’s Culinary Challenge
When: | 6:30 p.m., Monday, April 28 |
Where: | Capital Hotel mezzanine |
Tickets: | $100 per person |
Info: | Emily Mitchell, 379-9512, Emily@TheaFoundation.org |