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°ÄÃÅÁùºÏͼ¿â Long Island High School for the Arts founding Principal Ava Favara (center, standing), with beloved alumni and faculty who performed at the school's Scholarship Gala in honor of her and the school’s 50 years of arts excellence. (Currently, "The Voice" favorite and alum Jackie Romeo is second from left.)

This year’s Long Island High School for the Arts (LIHSA) Scholarship Gala honored founding principal Ava Favara and celebrated the school’s 50^th anniversary. Alumni and faculty delivered an evening of spectacular performances and donors provided over 50 raffle and auction items helping to raise more than $13,000 in scholarship funds for LIHSA seniors wishing to pursue post-secondary education in the arts.

Founding Principal Ava Favara was overwhelmed by the honor. “It was a beautiful night of unending surprises. I was overwhelmed with the alumni who returned to perform as well as the wonderful video tribute from amazing alumni who are performing all over the world and couldn’t be in attendance,” she said. “The audience was filled with alumni, former parents, teachers, staff members and artists as well as family members, friends and wonderful LIHSA students and supporters. It has been my great honor to have been in a position to help so many students make their dreams come true. It truly was one of the greatest nights of my life.”

The annual event is an opportunity for alumni to perform together and to share a variety of performing arts talents that they honed while attending LIHSA. Visual artists had their work on display in the school’s art gallery. Alumni hailed from the Paul Taylor Dance Company, Momix, the Broadway stage and a current contender on “The Voice,” Jackie Romero. Alumni are always excited to participate and give back to a school that helped shape who they are today.