A Starkville High School legend was honored this week.
Art teacher Andrew Lark received a proclamation from the city of Starkville Monday naming Aug. 18 as “Andrew Lark Day” in Starkville.
Lark has taught art courses at SHS for 20 years, and his students have received more than $10 million total in art scholarships over his career.
“I feel that Starkville is a true melting pot for art,” Lark said. “This entire community believes in the visual arts and the arts in general. I believe that I teach the best students in the country and the world. I know that students are moving here because of what we offer.”
Lark also cited the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District’s new “expect excellence every day” vision, saying expecting a degree of excellence of his students was how he pushed them to receive art scholarships. The proclamation was delivered by Starkville resident Bessie Montgomery, who pushed for the honor after her grandson began taking Lark’s classes at SHS.
“It’s a great honor,” Lark said. “I thank the mayor. I thank Ms. Montgomery. I thank God for it. Words can’t explain how it makes me feel.”
Lark said his favorite thing about teaching art is influencing the lives of his students and watching them develop as artists.
“Each and every day that I unlock the white house (SHS art building), I’m getting the opportunity to change and affect the life of every student every day, to show a student what can be achieved to receive a scholarship,” Lark said. Lark said he began drawing as a young child.
“Through God’s help, I’ve been doing art ever since I could remember,” Lark said. “I remember the drawings I gave away in kindergarten.”
Lark is an alumnus of Mississippi Valley State University, and serves as the department head of art at Starkville High School.
Other honors Lark has received include the 2000 Creative Ticket School of Distinction from the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, naming Starkville as one of the top five visual arts programs in the U.S., Starkville School Teacher of The Year for 2001-2002 and resolutions from the Mississippi House of Representatives and Senate.