The Original Oyster House awarded the 12th Annual Chelsea Garvin Spirit Scholarships to Laura Cohen of Fairhope High School and Meagan Daves of Bayside Academy. 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.
Since 2006, the Original Oyster House has awarded two $1,000 Chelsea Garvin Spirit Award scholarships to senior high school students of Baldwin County. The scholarship opportunity is not based on financial need, but rather academics, being involved in community arts and artwork that reflects the culture of the well-loved iconic seafood restaurant as well as the spirit of Chelsea Garvin.
Cecilia Mace, marketing director of the Original Oyster House presented Cohen the scholarship and stated, “What I love about Laura’s artwork is it invites you in instantly with its wonderful textures and intriguing palette. After you examine it you start to realize the statement the artist makes, and someone like me who was an art major, thinks wow, I wish I could have done that at such a young age.”
Mace also presented Maegan Dave’s scholarship at her senior awards ceremony at Bayside Academy. “Maegan’s submission this year nailed the Oyster House brand and highlighted Oyster Shell recycling which was first piloted in the state of Alabama this past year, at the Original Oyster House restaurants through the Alabama Coastal foundation. The crucial recycling of shell will help restore the reef, clean Alabama’s waters prevent coastal erosion, and boost productivity of not only oysters but fish, shrimp, crab and seafood we love to eat,” said Mace.
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 be given restaurant gift certificates to see first-hand their artwork displayed with family and friends, as well as an exclusive three day, four night trip to New York.
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.
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. For more information about Original Oyster House, visit www.originaloysterhouse.com or call 251-928-2620.
The 2017 Chelsea Garvin Spirit Scholarship winner Laura Cohen is pictured holding her award-winning piece
The 2017 Chelsea Garvin Spirit Scholarship winner Meagan Daves is pictured holding her artwork with Mary Ann Willis (center), college admission counselor, Bayside Academy and Cecilia Mace, marketing director, Original Oyster House.