MARTINSVILLE, Va. (May 12, 2026) — Piedmont Arts will honor DelShana LeGrant and 3rd Bay Café for their support of the arts at the 24th Annual Clyde Hooker Awards on Tuesday, June 2, at Piedmont Arts. The ceremony will begin promptly at 5:30 p.m. with a reception to follow.
The museum will also recognize Arts in Education Award recipient Kourtney Merricks and the recipients of the Nicodemus Hufford and Harold Knowlton Work Memorial Art Scholarships.
Guests should RSVP attendance by Friday, May 29, to 276-632-3221 or online here. There is no admission cost, but donations to the scholarship fund are appreciated. Donations may be made at the event or online.
About DelShana LeGrant
LeGrant is a dedicated ambassador for Piedmont Arts. She served on the museum’s Board of Directors from 2020-2025 and as board president from 2023-2024. She is an active member of the Strategic Planning Committee, helping to guide the museum’s future growth and impact. She has also served as a judge for Dancing for the Arts, volunteered at numerous events, and tirelessly advocates for the importance of the arts in the community.
In addition to the arts, she is passionate about childhood education, community service, and social justice-based initiatives. She serves as a special education regional consultant for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. She is also an education consultant at Hines-Gaither Consulting LLC, a diversity, equity, and inclusion education consultant at Kaplan Early Learning Company, and the owner of LeGrant Education Services LLC. She serves on the boards of the Harvest Foundation and Patrick & Henry Community College. She is the past president of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Kappa Delta Omega Chapter, and remains actively involved in numerous community service initiatives. She holds a master’s degree in education from Averett University and a doctorate in education from Liberty University.
“DelShana uses her passion for the arts and childhood education to inspire her community,” said Executive Director Heidi Pinkston. “She helps create opportunities for young minds to grow and explore creativity. Her commitment to the arts leaves a lasting impact that will benefit our community for generations.”
About 3rd Bay Café
3rd Bay Café is a family-owned restaurant that offers a fine-dining experience and serves as a hub for community engagement in Martinsville. Co-owner Yvonne Givens and her team have been supporting Piedmont Arts for nearly 20 years by sponsoring events, providing catering, and participating in events such as Savory September. Earlier this year, longtime employee Al Herndon and his teammate Melissa White took home the grand prize at Dancing for the Arts, a fundraiser that raised more than $90,000 for Piedmont Arts. 3rd Bay’s support of the event was instrumental in making the biennial fundraiser a success.
“3rd Bay isn’t just a place to eat,” said Pinkston. “It’s a cornerstone of the community. By sponsoring various local events, supporting the museum’s fundraisers, and much more, they uplift local organizations and create a sense of belonging for everyone they serve.”
About Kourtney Merricks
Merricks is passionate about the arts and arts education. She has worked closely with Piedmont Arts over the past two years, teaching art classes for homeschool students of all ages. She is a native of Figsboro, Virginia, and a graduate of Fieldale-Collinsville High School. She holds a bachelor’s degree in theatre from James Madison University. After college, she worked at a summer theater camp in Long Island, New York, an experience she credits with igniting her creative passion.
“Arts education is at the core of our mission at Piedmont Arts,” said Programs Coordinator Jennifer Gravely. “Kourtney shares that value. Her passion for the arts is evident in all that she does for her students. We've watched her classes grow, and we've seen the student art she proudly displays in the Foster Gallery. Her students adore her, and the lessons and experiences she's providing them are priceless and commendable.”
About the Nicodemus Hufford Memorial Arts Scholarship
Named in honor of famed portrait artist Nicodemus “Nick” Hufford, this scholarship supports graduating high school seniors who are residents of or attend a school located in Martinsville or Henry County, and who are pursuing a degree in the visual or performing arts at an accredited four-year institution.
Caesar Draper is the recipient of this year’s scholarship. He is a 2026 graduate of Martinsville High School, where he was an honor roll student and a two-time recipient of the Big M Award. He has starred in many school and community theater productions. He is an active community volunteer with organizations such as the Dan River Basin Association, the Red Cross, and local food drives.
He will attend North Carolina Central University in the fall, where he plans to major in the performing arts. After graduation, he hopes to embark on a career in the theater industry and serve as a mentor to young performers, helping them to build confidence and discover their creative potential.
About the Harold Knowlton Work Memorial Arts Scholarship
Established by Julia Ascough Work in memory of her late husband, Harold Knowlton Work, this scholarship supports rising college sophomores, juniors, and seniors who graduated from a high school located in Martinsville or Henry County, and who are pursuing a degree in the visual or performing arts at an accredited four-year institution.
Carina Fiona Aquilo, George Louque, and Lauralee Robinson are the recipients of this year’s scholarships.
Aquilo is a homeschool graduate. She is a studio art major in the School of Visual Arts at Virginia Tech. She views her artistic practice as a way to bring light into difficult spaces, not only for herself, but for others who may need it. After graduation, she plans to pursue a path that combines freelance art, travel, and community-building, with the long-term goal of creating a platform to support independent artists.
Louque is a graduate of Magna Vista High School. He is a communication arts major in the School of the Arts at Virginia Commonwealth University. After graduation, he plans to become a concept artist focusing on character design, atmosphere building, and storytelling.
Robinson is a graduate of Magna Vista High School. She is pursuing a double major in theater and theater education at Roanoke College. She has been acting in school and community productions since middle school, and credits Magna Vista Theater Director Bryan Dunn with inspiring her to pursue a career in the performing arts. In college, she has been recognized for her outstanding acting, receiving an award nomination for her role in “Little Women the Musical” from the American College Theatre Festival. After graduation, she hopes to open a children’s theater to inspire and encourage a passion for acting in future generations.
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