Eric Worden Presents Unique GuitART Piece Honoring Melinda at Creative Arts Festival

At the 2nd annual Melinda Vooss Creative Arts Festival, artist Eric Worden attended as a special guest of the Vooss family and presented a unique work in memory of Melinda and in celebration of Chesapeake Bay Academy’s young artists. Eric approaches art with a signature style that blends creative expression with music. He is known for transforming guitars found at local thrift stores into one-of-a-kind "GuitART" pieces, using various materials to create distinctive works of art. The piece he created for the festival features foil etchings, tributes to Melinda’s favorite artists, and personal attributes. The tree from the foundation’s logo serves as the central symbol of her lasting legacy.

Eric Worden, a beloved voice of Hampton Roads for over 30 years and the morning host on BOB-FM, has always been an active supporter of the arts. He is also the creator of the award-winning PBS program Magic of the Arts, which fuses music, art, and technology to make learning fun for kids. Today, his artistic talent and passion for the arts have culminated in this beautiful tribute to Melinda and the students at Chesapeake Bay Academy.

Thank you Eric for your endless generosity, kindness, and support of our family and foundation.

Congratulations to our first ODU Student Scholarship Winner: Bria Tyler

We are excited to announce the first recipient of the Melinda Vooss Artfully Yours Memorial Fund Education Scholarship. Please join me in congratulating Bria Tyler, Senior in PreK-12 Art Education major at Old Dominion University. This scholarship is an opportunity for Art Education seniors to showcase their dedication to the field and be recognized for their outstanding achievements as they complete their K-12 student teaching internship in Hampton Roads.

Bria is a passionate and dedicated student-teacher. She writes: “As a teaching artist, I am always searching for ways to enhance my knowledge and skills in order to benefit my students. My aspirations are to continue growing as an artist and educator and carry what I have learned back into the classroom in order to benefit my students.” 

Bria has many notable accomplishing including being awarded the Best in Show for the 2023 Baron and Ellin Gordon Galleries Student Juried Exhibition, which resulted in her solo exhibition in the Chrysler Museum Perry Glass Studio Vestibule 102 ON SHOW NOW. She took part in several prominent exhibitions, including ODU's Undergraduate Research Symposium, and the Barry Art Museum's Black History Month exhibition. Finally, she was nominated to the honor of the Student Worker of the Year and has held the position of the President of the Student Art Education Association for two consecutive years.

As Bria completes her BFA in Art Education at ODU, she also earned associate's degree Tidewater Community College in Early Childhood Education and Social Science, along with a certification in Child Development.

Bria shared the following letter upon learning of the scholarship award:

"I am writing to express my sincerest gratitude for being awarded the Melinda Vooss Artfully Yours Memorial Art Education Scholarship. As the first scholarship recipient, I want to thank you for this award, as I am honored to receive this recognition and grateful for the opportunity to pursue my passion for art education.

Melinda Vooss's commitment to her students and dedication to the field of art education is genuinely inspiring and has set a high standard for all who follow in her footsteps. Your commitment to carrying on the legacy of Melinda and supporting art education is genuinely commendable.

Thanks to your generosity, I can continue my studies in art education and develop my skills as an educator. This scholarship will help me achieve my career goals and positively impact the lives of my future students.

Once again, I would like to express my sincere appreciation for this honor. I strive to keep Melinda Vooss's legacy alive by incorporating her values of using art to help build confidence, self-awareness, expression, pride, and more into my teaching practices in the community and public schools, along with instilling the same love and passion for art that she had in all my students."

- Bria Tyler

As we celebrate awarding the first Melinda Vooss Artfully Yours Memorial Fund Education Scholarship, we are reminded of the foundation’s core mission: to inspire and empower future art educators while fostering creativity and confidence in young minds. Bria Tyler, our inaugural recipient, embodies these values through her passion and dedication to art education. We are excited to support her journey, knowing that her future work will carry forward Melinda’s legacy of using art to uplift and inspire students.

Together, we can continue to nurture the next generation of creative educators like Bria.

Sights, Sounds, and Colors: The Inaugural Melinda Vooss Creative Arts Festival

On, May 26, 2023, Chesapeake Bay Academy hosted the first annual Melinda Vooss Creative Arts Festival. This school-wide event showcases the artistic talents of students across all grade levels.

The spirit of discovery, the depth of creativity, and an overwhelming sense of pride and accomplishment were on full display. Many of Melinda's former students participated in the festival and shared their personal stories of how they connected and what she meant to each of them as a teacher and caring advocate. It was a day that will never be forgotten.

Enjoy this gallery of images and video from the event, including an original piece of artwork created by Melinda's students and presented to Scott as a gift.

A heartfelt thank you to the entire CBA community, including teachers, parents, students, and administrative staff for their support and sincerity in everything they have done to honor Melinda. A special thanks to Dr. Judy Jankowski, Head of School.