Suzi Yenser, Branch Manager for the Payne Branch Library of the Paulding County Carnegie Library System, has been named Distinguished Citizen for 2017 by the Ohio Art Educator’s Association. Nominated by Angie Stokes, Art Teacher at the Wayne Trace High School, Yenser is the epitome of a citizen encouraging community involvement in the arts.
Angie shares, “It is awesome working with Suzi. I am excited about all the ways she incorporates the arts into her programs.”
In the past two years, Mrs. Yenser has formed a unique partnership with the Wayne Trace art program led by Ms. Stokes. Suzi’s desire for exposing students and the general public to art have been enthusiastically received in the small community. By providing an opportunity for students to display their art at the library she has opened the door for students who may not have a chance to share their art with the general public.
One of the more ambitious projects was the 2016 painting of a mural on the outside wall of the library. With Suzi’s “onboard” support, art students researched the Payne area and created a meaningful work of art for the community and for anyone travelling north on Ohio State Highway 49. In 2015, unspeakable violence targeted a military recruiting station in Chattanooga, Tennessee, one of the fallen was Navy Logistics Specialist Second Class, Randall Smith from Paulding County. Suzi provided the opportunity for the youth of the community to reach out and share a moment of solidarity with youth of the Chattanooga Public Library by creating a “handprint poster” of friendship.
Under the leadership of Mrs. Yenser, the citizens in the Village of Payne, Ohio are being exposed to art in a variety of ways, both hands-on and through exhibitions. She has created a safe public place for the arts to come together for all ages.
