POTTSTOWN PA – Mary Reisenwitz of Glenmoore PA, a senior at and soon to graduate from Owen J. Roberts High School in Pottstown PA, was named Saturday afternoon (June 4, 2011) as the 2011 recipient of the Greater Pottstown Foundation’s second annual $10,000 four-year scholarship for study in the arts.

Greater Pottstown Foundation President Paul A. Prince, right, congratulates arts scholarship winner Mary Reisenwitz, a graduating senior at Owen J. Roberts High School.

Foundation President and Pottstown attorney Paul A. Prince announced Reisenwitz as the winner during a reception at the Gallery School of Pottstown, High Street, held to honor the several competing artists entered from Pottstown, Pottsgrove and Owen J. Roberts high schools. The name of the winner was kept secret, and was not known even to Prince, until the presentation certificate was removed from its envelope.

• Watch a video about the presentation, above, or see it at The Post’s YouTube user account.

The foundation was created by, and is funded from the estate of, the late Shandy Hill, co-founder and long-time editor of The (Pottstown PA) Mercury newspaper.

The scholarship is awarded on merit, as measured by an essay and artistic performance displayed in the exhibit at the school. The seniors were able to present efforts in watercolor or pastel pencil, charcoal or ink, and oil or acrylic. Their work will be on display in the gallery until June 11.

Reisenwitz will attend the Maryland Institute College of Art. On her Facebook page, she names English philosopher Francis Bacon, American painter Leon Golub, French symbolist painter Odilon Redon, Spanish romantic painter Francisco José de Goya, and English painter Jenny Saville as sources of her inspiration.

The Gallery School of Pottstown is a non-profit community art school and gallery. It offers day, evening and weekend classes to all ages, to help students develop creative skills through self-expression and independence. The accompanying Gallery on High hosts rotating shows featuring local artists.