Denise Devlin (BFA ’07) has traveled to more than 50 countries and 30 states thanks to her successful career in musical theatre. But some of her most meaningful artistic experiences happened while she was a student at Northern Kentucky University.

She attended NKU as an Uptown Arts Scholar, receiving scholarship funding in exchange for working with Uptown Arts, a Cincinnati nonprofit that provides free classes in dance, acting, music and art for underserved youths ages 5-11. Students like Devlin work alongside Uptown Arts’ instructors, creating a “win-win-win” scenario according to philanthropist Dick Rosenthal, who founded Uptown Arts 20 years ago with his late wife, Lois.

“Lois thought this was a great opportunity for us to employ young classroom assistants majoring in one of the art forms we provide,” he says of the organization’s partnership with NKU. "They get a nice stipend and a unique experience working with the excellent teachers we have here at Uptown Arts. And the elementary students benefit, too,” says Rosenthal. He estimates that close to 50 School of the Arts students have served as Uptown Arts Scholars through the years.

Devlin, for one, credits the program for her love of arts education. “It taught me not only to be accountable with my talent, but to use my talent to help those less fortunate,” says Devlin, who has worked with children in Cincinnati, New York, Sydney and Melbourne, Australia. Now performing, teaching and residing with her husband in Australia, Devlin also owns Petite Princess Parties in northern Kentucky, a children’s entertainment company partially aimed at providing unique opportunities for actresses and singers in our region.

She's been able to pursue her dreams because she left NKU with no student loan debt—thanks in large part to the Rosenthals’ support for Uptown Arts Scholars. “I was incredibly lucky to walk out of NKU with zero student loan debt,” she says. “Scholarships give students the ability to pursue their passions."

And, because of students like Devlin, Uptown Arts has flourished over the past two decades. “These are energetic, passionate, bright, engaging young people,” says Rosenthal. “They help to expose young children to new art forms and genres, while instilling self-discipline and confidence. We’re hearing anecdotally that kids do better in school because of Uptown Arts. These kinds of things were very rewarding for my late wife and for me.”

Devlin concurs. “As soon as the kids at Uptown Arts walked in and put on their dancing shoes, you could see them get a little bit lighter. They didn’t have to worry about anything for the hour they were in class with us. Some of their stories were heartbreaking, but for that time we just got to have fun and learn about the arts.”