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CORVALLIS - A grant of $15,000 from the Coca-Cola Foundation will help sponsor a scholarship program to a popular art program for teenagers held annually at Oregon State University.

The Coca-Cola Gold Ribbon Awards, offered through the grant, will help students attend Jumpstart, a three-week, pre-college visual arts workshop offered each summer by OSU's Department of Art.

Jumpstart is designed to allow talented high school students an opportunity to study art in a university atmosphere and develop a quality portfolio to help them with the transition to another level of education.

The OSU program is aimed at students in grades 10-12 who have demonstrated a heightened interest and ability in visual arts, from painting and calligraphy to photography and computer-aided design.

"Jumpstart provides an accelerated education opportunity that reinforces enthusiasm and focuses on the energies of young artists," said John Maul, and associate professor of art at OSU and director of the program.

In 1996, the OSU Department of Art awarded two Jumpstart students full tuition scholarships to the university, and will again in 1997, according to David Hardesty, who chairs the department.

That kind of "bridge" from high school to the university level prompted Coca-Cola's involvement, officials say.

"We wanted to support this arts education program because it brings high school students to a college campus to develop their talents on the college level," said Michael Bivens, education director for the Coca-Cola Foundation.

Faculty in the art department will evaluate applications for the Coca-Cola Gold Ribbon Awards to Jumpstart in late April and early May. Students interested in the Jumpstart program should call the OSU Department of Art at 541-737-4745.