Five High School Performers on Staten Island Receive Scholarships

At second annual Teddy Atlas Performing Arts Concert, five young women, who are accomplished performers and attend Staten Island high schools, were each presented with a $1,000 scholarship and an engraved award. The young women also performed during the concert and each received a standing ovation from the audience. Held at the Labetti Post VFW Hall, the concert is jointly organized by the Dr. Theodore A. Atlas Foundation and Investors Bank. The Foundation serves Staten Island communities in many ways and encourages children and teens to pursue their dreams in education, the arts and sports. Investors Bank COO Domenick Cama presented the scholarships to each student performer. Also, the Investors Bank band and performers, who are employees, also played at the concert. Shown in the photo from left to right are Investors Bank Sr. Vice President Jacqueline Hancock-Pena, Sara Pabst, a senior at Tottenville High School; Kayla Newton, a junior at McKee High School; Samantha Brandt, a senior at Susan E. Wagner High School; Diana Olivares, a senior at Curtis High School; COO Domenick Cama; Teddy Atlas, founder of Dr. Theodore Atlas Foundation; Shantelle Burrus, a junior at The Petrides School; and Staten Island Senior Market Manager Brian Gomez.
Photo by Luca Forza

Investors Bank's band and singers performed during the Teddy Atlas Performing Arts Concert on Staten Island. The Bank's Culture Department helped created the band, which regularly performs as part of the Giving Back Concert Series. The Bank's concert series team also helps stage and produce the concert and provides technical, audio and lighting support for the performers.

Investors Bank Shaune Anthony Brown, who manages the Springfield branch on Morris Avenue, served as the emcee during the Teddy Atlas Performing Arts Concert.

The five performers who earned scholarships during the Teddy Atlas Performing Arts Concert. Scholarships were presented by Investors Bank COO Domenick Cama.

Here more information about the performers:

Kayla Newton (left) has been singing for almost a decade and has dramatically improved since she first began. She hopes to become a successful music entrepreneur in the future.

Diana Olivares (second in on left) has performed in many high school musicals and with her dance company. She will attending the State University of New York in Albany beginning in July.

Shantelle Burrus (center) is also a youth leader who volunteers her time rehearsing and tutoring children in reading and music while assisting the young students with their homework.

Sara Pabst, second from right) performed throughout her high school career. She sings with her high school's Women's Chorus and with the Concert Choir as well as with the New York Conference All-State Mixed Chorus.

Samantha Brandt (right) started playing trombone in her freshman year and is now the lead player in her school's ensemble including Wind Ensemble and Jazz Band. She is also a drum major in her high school's marching band.