The 23rd annual Clyde Hooker Awards were presented to VisitMartinsville and longtime Piedmont Arts supporter Marty Gardner. The awards also included five scholarships awarded to seniors to help further their education in the arts.
The individual recipient of the Clyde Hooker Award was Marty Gardner, who has more than six decades of acting and support for Piedmont Arts. Gardner has participated in major capital campaigns, served on numerous committees, managed exhibitions, and continues to advocate for the museum throughout the community.
Executive Director Heidi Pinkston said the award was “long overdue” and praised Gardner’s vision. “No one is more deserving. Marty, your vision, tenacity, and unwavering commitment have helped Piedmont Arts flourish into the community jewel it is today.”
VisitMartinsville, the official tourism bureau for Martinsville-Henry County, was recognized for its role in promoting local culture and creativity. In 2023, the region saw $72.8 million in visitor spending, supporting more than 800 jobs and generating $3 million in tourism-related tax revenue. Sarah Hodges, director of tourism and talent development, accepted the award on behalf of the organization.
“VisitMartinsville’s mission perfectly aligns with Piedmont Arts’ vision of connecting our community through the arts. Their commitment to storytelling, placemaking, and local pride helps cultivate a strong sense of identity for Martinsville-Henry County and reinforces the essential role that the arts play in our economy and daily lives,” said Piedmont Arts board president-elect Olivia Garrett.
The Arts in Education Award was presented to the Charity League of Martinsville and Henry County, which has supported youth arts programming in the region for decades. The League has partnered with the Missoula Children’s Theatre, funded local theater camps and productions, and provided $1,000 grants to each area high school theater department this past year.
“Over the years, Charity League members have sought to address the evolving needs of our community with special programming and generous donations,” said Piedmont Arts program coordinator Jennifer Gravely.
Several students received scholarships supporting their pursuit of the arts. Breanna Boyd, a graduate of Bassett High School, received the Nicodemus D. Hufford Memorial Scholarship. Boyd will attend James Madison University’s School of Music. At Bassett, she was first-chair clarinet, drum major, section leader, a two-time All-State Band member, an All-American Band finalist, and was selected by her peers for the Best of Bassett Award.
Scarlett Norman, a graduate of Carlisle School, also received the Hufford Scholarship. She will attend High Point University this fall to pursue a double major in musical theatre and marketing. Norman has been active in the arts from a young age, participating in countless productions locally and regionally. She was cast as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz with the Children’s Theatre of Greensboro and was scouted by the Disney College Program.
The Harold Knowlton Work Memorial Scholarship was awarded to three college students continuing their arts education. Nathan Hopkins, a rising junior at Longwood University, is pursuing a degree in music education. He participates in Wind Symphony, Jazz Band, University Band, and Camerata Singers, and is active in organizations such as the National Association for Music Educators and the American Choral Directors Association.
Ainsley Jones, a rising senior at Radford University, is majoring in dance with a concentration in dance entrepreneurship. She hopes to perform in the entertainment industry after graduation and eventually return to school for a Master of Fine Arts. Her long-term goal is to become a dance professor or open her own studio where she can offer scholarships to students in need.
Onyinye Ugbomah-Otunuya, a rising senior at Longwood University, is double majoring in graphic design and psychology. She plans to pursue a career in art therapy, inspired by her father’s stroke recovery. For her senior thesis project, she created an illustrated motion piece exploring African ethnic identities, narrated in her native accent—impressing the scholarship committee with both creativity and technical skill.
