To the members of the House Budget Committee,

I have been fortunate enough to have attended both the Missouri Scholar's Academy and the Missouri Fine Arts Academy. Both were experiences that I will carry with me throughout the rest of my life. I'd like to share some with you now.

At the Missouri Scholar's Academy, I learned how to be curious, how to analyze everything, and how to use my gifts and talents to encourage new thinking and new ideas. I became more mature, expanded my social skills, and grew in self-confidence. At the Missouri Fine Arts Academy I learned how to see the world differently. It changed the way I viewed art and artists. Here, I learned skills in collaboration and chose my future career path in the arts. I became more in touch with my emotions and with other's emotions. I gained empathy.

Both experiences allowed me to grow into the person I am today. Both exposed me to new ways of thinking, prepared me for a college atmosphere, and allowed me to make friends all over our beautiful state of Missouri. I remember being so thankful that I lived in a state that made education and the arts some of its main priorities. It is one of the reasons I chose to attend a college in Missouri. This past November I was able to vote for the first time. I was very excited to be able to do so, and heavily researched all candidates. One of the issues I looked at first was how the candidates viewed education, especially arts education. I knew that the Missouri Scholar's Academy and the Missouri Fine Arts Academy heavily relied on government funding and that over the past few years there has been little to no cost to the student's families. I was deeply disappointed to learn that Governor Greitens has not recommended funding for the 2018 academies.

I urge you to increase the funding for the academies. Young people are our future. What you are doing is investing in a bigger, brighter future. You are creating a future in which Missouri is full of citizens with innovative ideas, collaborative skills, and, most importantly, heart. Please increase the funding for the academies, and allow more of our youth to experience the wonderful things the academies have to offer.

Sincerely,

Bethany Miscannon