Obama Administration Honors Sioux Falls After-School Program

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — A South Dakota after-school program is among 13 that have been honored by the Obama administration.

The Action Arts and Science Program hosted by the Washington Pavilion in Sioux Falls is one of the recipients of 2015 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Awards presented Tuesday at the White House.

First lady Michelle Obama presented the awards that recognize the nation's best youth programs that use arts and humanities to develop skills and increase academic achievement.

The director of the Pavilion's community learning center, Rose Ann Hofland, and 17-year-old Chofian Abokbar received the award on behalf of the facility.

During the ceremony, Mrs. Obama said Abokbar "didn't speak a word of English" when she moved from Turkey to South Dakota four years ago. But, Mrs. Obama said, Abokbar got involved with the arts program and now "she's chatting up a storm."

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