Scholarships to benefit humanities students
Design for Sharing attracts support from arts-lovers
By Allyssa Lee
Seen as having an "eye for art" by members of the UCLA Medical
Center, professor of ophthalmology Dr. Leonard Apt has been a
longtime patron of the arts.
"As a physician my primary interest is medicine," Apt said.
"However, I have many interests outside my profession, including
the performing arts, music, art itself and sports  especially
at UCLA."
Apt, director emeritus of the Division of Pediatric
Ophthalmology at UCLA’s Jules Stein Institute, continued his
philanthropic reputation by recently donating a scholarship to the
UCLA School of Arts and Architecture.
The contribution was one of 25 incentive scholarships used by
the school to mark the 25th anniversary of the UCLA Design for
Sharing, a community outreach program that introduces junior and
senior high school students to different facets of the performing
arts world.
"(The UCLA Design for Sharing program) is a wonderful
opportunity for these students to experience," Apt said. "It’s very
delightful to see them come and enjoy the programs they have at
UCLA. Since I’m interested in arts and performing arts I like to
see young children to develop their talents and have the money to
continue their endeavors."
The program, founded in 1969, distributes tickets to various
performing arts students and organizes special programming for
school children to see artists, and allows artistically gifted
students a chance to participate in various master classes.
Twenty-five scholarships, each for $1,000, were awarded to 25
students from the Los Angeles area entering the UCLA School of the
Arts and Architecture this fall under music, world arts and
cultures, dance and ethnomusicology majors.
According to Nancy Papalexis, director of the UCLA Design for
Sharing, the scholarships will greatly benefit the performing arts
program.
"It was a very successful campaign," Papalexis said. "I’m
delighted that we did it in less than two months.
"There are a number of people that have been very devoted to the
Design for Sharing, including Dr. Apt," Papalexis continued. "(The
scholarships are) helping to increase the number of applications to
the School (of the Arts and Architecture). Any financial incentives
we can give to students is a big, big help."
News of the award has increased student applications by about 10
percent to the school, according to officials.
Other contributors to the program include the Perloff Family,
Andrea Rich and David Rodes.
Apt is a longtime Distinguished Benefactor of the Design for
Sharing program who also serves on the boards of the Royce Center
Circle and Friends of the Graphic Arts.
"I’ve tried to show my devotion to my school by being a major
benefactor of the eye institutes and as well as other groups on
campus," Apt said. "It’s very gratifying to see these children
develop into artists."