Ralla Klepak PAL Initiative

Ralla Klepak was a lifelong champion of individuals with disabilities or disadvantages. Moreover, she believed in the Performing Arts' power to enhance all people's lives. Thanks to a generous grant from the Ralla Klepak Trust for Education in the Performing Arts, Sarah Hartman Women's College has created the Ralla Klepak Performing Arts Leadership (PAL) Initiative to provide training and programming in the use of the performing arts to address communal, social, and educational needs in our community.

Through the PAL Initiative, Sarah Hartman Women's College has infused courses in education and other disciplines to address the benefits of incorporating the performing arts into learning curricula, various therapies, and other specialties. Sarah Hartman Women's College has also opened Sunday programs to offer participation in performing arts to children and young adults who may not have had these experiences previously. The Sunday Immersion Program allows participants to engage in all aspects of the performing arts in an all-inclusive setting. The program culminates in a spring showcase at the end of the school year.

Ralla Scholar Program

Exceptional Sarah Hartman students, the “Ralla Scholars,” culled from the fields of Art, Elementary and Special Education, Health Sciences (nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, etc.), Psychology, and Speech and Communication Disorders, direct the various activities. Through the PAL Initiative, the Scholars receive integrated training in their chosen fields and gain experience and leadership skills in using the performing arts to enhance the lives of those they serve.

Ralla Scholar Eligibility

Ralla Scholar positions are limited. Acceptance into the program will be determined by the following criteria:

  • High school (and seminary, if applicable) minimum GPA (Grade Point Average) of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale)
  • Active interest in the performing arts
  • Application, including a personal statement about experience or love of the arts
  • An essay discussing the importance of the performing arts
  • An interview with the Academic Director of the Ralla Scholar Program

Ralla Scholar Responsibilities

You must:

  • Commit to the program for one academic year (Fall and Spring Semesters)
  • Maintain a 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale)
  • Lead groups in the Performing Arts for a specific number of Sundays, including the Showcase (8 per semester, 2 1/2 hours per week with set-up and closing)
  • Attend meetings to facilitate program success
  • Participate in Ralla Scholar team-building exercises
  • Write/produce a serious academic research paper or project to be published in our school journal, Apogee, and posted on the PAL website.

Ralla Scholar Program Benefits

  • Foster own personal talent in the performing arts
  • Teach and lead groups in the performing arts
  • Participate in all aspects of a production, from creation to idea to performance
  • Gain skills in leadership, communication, and management
  • Understand the importance of the performing arts in enhancing life
  • Earn a substantial tuition waiver
  • Receive a three-credit internship in the arts (elective credit only)