Marfa Live Arts established the Crown Scholarship in 2020 during the early months of the coronavirus pandemic. In Spanish corona means crown.

The awards recognize graduating seniors who excelled in both academics and in Marfa Live Arts enrichment courses such as playwriting and theater.

The 2021 Crown scholars are John Aguero, Yerania Gallegos, Henry Catching Marginot and Andrea Torres. Students were chosen by a committee who reviewed the applications, which included essays on their plans for their university years and beyond.

Andrea Torres, who has been involved with Marfa Live Arts since sixth grade, is pursuing a career in the computer science field.

“This scholarship will help me achieve my dreams in the computer science field, where I would become a video game designer,” she said. “Being a female, I would love to be very successful in this male-dominated field. As a female in the gaming community, women aren’t really accepted or respected, and that is something that I would like to change.”

When asked about her connection to Marfa Live Arts throughout her school years, Torres remarked, “I have always loved what Marfa Live Arts has done for our school and com munity. I always looked forward to all the activities they do for us every year. Marfa Live Arts has become something that I love to be a part of, and I’m thankful for everything they have done for me as an individual writer.”