Si and Shirley Wachsberger Arts Scholarship Award
As long-time residents of Beachwood, Si and Shirley Wachsberger were founding members of the Beachwood Arts Council.
Si was raised in East Cleveland and graduated from Miami University with a degree in journalism. He is best known for holding elective office for 38 years on both the Beachwood School Board and the Beachwood City Council where he served as president of both. He owned The Oxford Shop for men’s clothes in Shaker Heights for 29 years before becoming Executive Director at Fairmount Temple, where he had been a teacher years earlier. In addition to BAC, Si helped to start the Voters League, the Beachwood Museum, and the Little League.
Shirley was raised in Cleveland and graduated from John Carroll University with a degree in psychology. While raising four sons, Donald, Kenneth, Jeffrey and Robert, she worked at the Bryden School library then later as a paralegal in Cleveland. In addition to serving on the BAC, she was on the PTA and volunteered at Montefiore Women’s Auxiliary, where she served as president of both.
They both volunteered as reading tutors to inner-city children and created a library at one of the schools.
In order to honor Si and Shirley for their contributions to the Beachwood Arts Council, the BAC Board decided to establish the Si and Shirley Wachsberger Arts Scholarship Award for graduating high school seniors who plan to pursue the arts by further developing their skills in college. A $500 scholarship is given to a student entering college. The final decision regarding the winner is left to the discretion of the Art Award Committee. The Award may be given in the following areas (but are not limited to): the visual arts, the performing arts, and the musical arts. The Award is presented to the winner at BAC’s annual June meeting. The recipient is requested to make a presentation at that meeting. Beachwood Arts Council is proud to honor Si and Shirley Wachsberger by offering this Arts Scholarship Award to deserving high school graduates.
Si was raised in East Cleveland and graduated from Miami University with a degree in journalism. He is best known for holding elective office for 38 years on both the Beachwood School Board and the Beachwood City Council where he served as president of both. He owned The Oxford Shop for men’s clothes in Shaker Heights for 29 years before becoming Executive Director at Fairmount Temple, where he had been a teacher years earlier. In addition to BAC, Si helped to start the Voters League, the Beachwood Museum, and the Little League.
Shirley was raised in Cleveland and graduated from John Carroll University with a degree in psychology. While raising four sons, Donald, Kenneth, Jeffrey and Robert, she worked at the Bryden School library then later as a paralegal in Cleveland. In addition to serving on the BAC, she was on the PTA and volunteered at Montefiore Women’s Auxiliary, where she served as president of both.
They both volunteered as reading tutors to inner-city children and created a library at one of the schools.
In order to honor Si and Shirley for their contributions to the Beachwood Arts Council, the BAC Board decided to establish the Si and Shirley Wachsberger Arts Scholarship Award for graduating high school seniors who plan to pursue the arts by further developing their skills in college. A $500 scholarship is given to a student entering college. The final decision regarding the winner is left to the discretion of the Art Award Committee. The Award may be given in the following areas (but are not limited to): the visual arts, the performing arts, and the musical arts. The Award is presented to the winner at BAC’s annual June meeting. The recipient is requested to make a presentation at that meeting. Beachwood Arts Council is proud to honor Si and Shirley Wachsberger by offering this Arts Scholarship Award to deserving high school graduates.
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The Wachsberger family from left, Judi, Don, Shirley, Bob
2025 Winner
Hailey Kochis Performing Arts
Hailey Kochis, a Laurel School graduate, will be attending the Conservatory of Performing Arts at Baldwin Wallace University, majoring in piano performance with an emphasis in collaboration.
Hailey Kochis, center, with the Wachsberger family, from left: Norm Pollack, Sue Pollack, Bob Wachsberger, Don Wachsberger, and Don's wife, Judi Wachsberger
2024 Winner
Alaire Bang Visual Arts
Bang graduated from Laurel School, and is taking a gap year traveling and studying in Europe. Upon her return, she will attend Pratt Institute.
Bang with two of the four Wachsberger sons, Bob and Don, and Don's wife, Judi.
2023 Winner
Rebecca Young Performing Arts
Young with members of the Washsberger Family: Bob, Judi and Don Wachsberger
2022 Winner
Moonhee Kim - Violinist
Musical Arts
2019 Winner Natalie Noble
Visual Arts
Oil painting titled “Vegetables with Knife”
2018 Winners Sydney Fieseler and Ethan Walker Performing Arts
2017 Winner Chandler Kitson - Trombonist
Musical Arts
Paula Rollins, BAC Trustee, presents the award
Diane Kitson, Chandler Kitson and Diane Kitson–Clark
2016 Winner Monteserrat Vazquez Camarena
Visual Arts
