D219 Fine Arts Director Jason Brown returned to Saint Louis, MO on September 14 to receive the prestigious Excellence in Education Award from the St. Louis American Foundation at its 25th Anniversary Salute to Excellence in Education Scholarship and Awards Gala. Missouri Governor Jeremiah "Jay" Nixon issued an official proclamation honoring Brown on his achievement.

The award committee recognized Brown for revitalizing the arts program at Riverview Gardens School District "by engaging and enriching his students by exposing them to the broadest range of artistic expression."  The foundation lauded him for "employing every resource available to the district, including grants, collaborations, community partnerships, donations and human resources."

The St. Louis American newspaper established its non-profit foundation in 1994 to enable the African-American community to increase young people's access to careers in journalism, the sciences and the humanities. It has distributed millions of dollars in scholarships and community grants throughout the St. Louis region.