Siena Avolio, a 2025 graduate of Athens Academy, was honored on Friday, July 18, 2025, at the Classic Center’s annual gala. Siena was one of six area students to receive the Performing Arts Scholarship from the Classic Center Cultural Foundation. Siena won for the category of dance.

Athens Academy drama teacher Lorraine Thompson, who attended the event, commented, “Siena’s performance this evening was wonderful! She was an excellent representative of Athens Academy. I am so proud of her and her accomplishments!”

Siena will be attending Duke University this fall. During her time at Athens Academy, she was selected for membership in the prestigious Cum Laude Society, the National Honor Society, and the French Honor Society. Siena served on the Honor Council and was a 17 Society ambassador, and she was an AP Scholar with Distinction. She was very active in the Athens Academy Fine Arts program, winning two Silver Key Awards from the Scholastic Art program during her senior year. Siena successfully completed a Capstone project entitled “Dance and Movement Analysis,” for which she served as the choreographer for the spring play The Drowsy Chaperone.

In addition to Siena’s student scholarship award in the amount of $2,000, the Classic City Cultural Foundation also presented the Athens Academy Drama Club with a $500 award. “This gift will be used to further the group’s outreach and artistic opportunities,” said Ms. Thompson. “Many thanks to the Classic Center and the work they do in our community.”

According to their website, the Classic Center Cultural Foundation is “dedicated to fostering creativity and artistic excellence. Each year, the Cultural Foundation awards scholarships to talented high school students in the performing and visual arts to help them pursue their passion. Each scholarship awards $2,000 to the student and an additional donation to the high school arts program to support creative initiatives. The visual arts scholarship funding is made possible in part by The Ann and Jack Crowley Scholarship Fund for the Visual Arts.”

Athens Academy is an independent, co-educational school for students in K3 through 12th grade, located on a beautiful 152-acre campus in Northeast Georgia. Now in its 58th year, Athens

Academy pursues its mission of “excellence with honor” through academics, athletics, fine arts, and service and leadership. Ranked the #1 private school in Athens, #6 private school in the state of Georgia (out of 400+ schools), and #1 private school in North Georgia (Niche.com).

For more information, please contact Kelley Cuneo, communications director, at [email protected] or 706-433-2410.