The Ventura County Arts Council recognized the 2010 Arts Scholars at a reception on June 1 at the Ventura County Government Center in Ventura.

The students passed a rigorous application process for this honor. They were chosen to attend the 2010 California State Summer School for the Arts/InnerSpark session at Cal Arts in Valencia.

The youths received certificates from the council and local and state elected officials as well as a commemorative folio featuring the arts scholars.

The local scholars are: Amanda Beaudet of Simi Valley, Santa Susana High School, creative writing; Scott Downs of Simi Valley, Royal High School, instrumental music; Maia Gross of Simi Valley, Santa Susana High School, animation; Evan Laffer of Thousand Oaks, Agoura High School, visual arts; Crystal Montelongo of Moorpark, Moorpark High School, theatre;

Guiliana PeBenito of Westlake Village, Westlake High School, creative writing; Adam Rayzor of Moorpark, Moorpark High School, theatre; Elizabeth Sutton of Moorpark, Moorpark High School, dance; and Katie Woerner of Moorpark, Moorpark High School, theatre.

InnerSpark offers instruction in the fields of animation, music, dance, film and video, theatre, creative writing and the visual arts.

The California Legislature created the California State Summer School for the Arts in 1987 to provide a training environment for the state’s exceptional young artists.