The Original Oyster House awarded Audrey Mecke of Bayside Academy and Mary Emma Rockwell of Fairhope High School the 10th Annual Chelsea Garvin Spirit Award Scholarships. Chelsea Garvin was a 2004 graduate of Fairhope High School, a Fish River Fire Department volunteer, an Original Oyster House employee and a talented artist whose life was cut short in a boating accident in 2005. The scholarship winners reflect Chelsea’s spirit in their artwork and in their reason for applying.
“Ever since I was a little girl, I have considered the Original Oyster House to be my absolute favorite restaurant in Baldwin County,” stated Mecke. “Because I have lived on the Eastern Shore my whole life and have eaten at both the Causeway and the Gulf Shores locations countless times, the Original Oyster House has come to be a true representation of home. Growing up, I have always wanted to be an artist. I love the idea of making something from nothing, a notion that has inspired me to create throughout my life. What I consider my true goals of pursuing a career in art are to delight and inspire as many people as I can. Every single person has creativity in them, and I want to encourage people, especially the youth, to bring that out and believe in themselves. Overall, I want to contribute a more positive outlook in society to hopefully make our world a better place. Winning this scholarship would be a very helpful way to jumpstart my college art career and to begin to achieve my goals. However, it would also be a wonderful depiction of the end of the first chapter of my journey. Receiving this award from a place I associate so much with home would be an incredible honor, symbolizing my graduation from my hometown to start anew and bloom elsewhere, “Mecke recounted.
Rockewell stated, “It would be an honor to receive the Chelsea Garvin Spirit Award Scholarship from Original Oyster House would allow help me attend college. I have worked very hard through school to maintain good grades, participate in many community events and work at my job.”
Since 2006, the Original Oyster House has sponsored two $1,000 Chelsea Garvin Spirit Award scholarships. “I really like this scholarship opportunity because it is not based on financial need, but rather academics, being involved in community arts and submitting artwork that reflects the culture of the well-loved iconic seafood restaurant as well as the spirit of Chelsea. Through Chelsea’s Scholarship, high school seniors of Baldwin County can experience that through art, you can serve others, evoke emotions, communicate to the masses, memorialize an amazing spirit, lift up your family, friends and peers and in this scenario, help pay for your college education,” shared Cecilia Mace, marketing director of Superb Foods.
The winning artworks will be displayed in both Original Oyster House restaurants for local patrons and visitors from all over the country to enjoy. The winners will also be given restaurant gift certificates to see first-hand their artwork displayed with family and friends.
The Original Oyster House has become the “must-go-to” place for great fresh Gulf seafood, service and southern hospitality and for its panoramic locations. A top-spot for hand-shucked and fire-grilled oysters, the Original Oyster House has also become legendary for its homemade gumbo, cheesy grits with blackened shrimp as well as handcrafted desserts including its famous peanut butter chocolate chip pie. Patrons, employees and children are welcomed as family.
The Original Oyster House has two locations, Mobile: 3733 Battleship Parkway, on the Causeway and Gulf Shores: 701 Hwy 59 on the Original Oyster House Boardwalk. Both locations offer spectacular waterfront views, private party rooms and have been celebrated as the area’s finest family restaurants for the past 32 years. The Original Oyster House is managed by Superb Foods, a management company of Geez Louise Boutique, OOH Trading Company and Joe & Dave’s Sauces and Seasonings. For more information about Original Oyster House, visit www.originaloysterhouse.com or call 251-928-2620.
For more information on the Original Oyster House’s Annual Chelsea Garvin Spirit Award Scholarships, please contact by e-mail marketing@originaloysterhouse.com or call 251-928-2620 x 110.
Pictured at Bayside Academy’s awards ceremony accepting one of this year’s Chelsea Garvin Spirit Award Scholarships are Audrey Mecke (winner) and Joe Roszkoswki, president and CEO of Superb Food | Original Oyster House restaurants.
Pam Scott, Joe Roszkoswki, Cecilia Mace, Mary Emma Rockwell, Linda Williams and Jon Cardwell.