Jim Porter and Betty Smith Named Inaugural Recipients of The Champion Award

Written By Mike Scott

The new Champion Award honors local leaders in the arts, culture & humanities. This award is a centerpiece initiative of the Bluecoats organization’s 50th anniversary. We’re thrilled to announce Jim Porter, president of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and Betty Smith, Founder & Executive Director of En-Rich-Ment of Stark County, as the inaugural recipients of the Champion award.

Join us at 8 pm at Bluecoats Party in the Plaza on Sunday, July 3 for an award ceremony honoring Jim and Betty!

Photo of Jim Porter smiling in a room with Pro Football Hall of Fame awards.

Jim Porter is the seventh president of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but his leadership in the arts, culture, and humanities in Canton and Northeast Ohio extends throughout his entire career. Before his work at the Hall of Fame, Jim was the publisher of the Canton Repository and even chaired the city’s Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival. A long-time fan and advocate of the Bluecoats organization and other performing arts programs in Northeast Ohio, Jim has proven to be a passionate advocate of the benefits of performing arts and other cultural programs in the area. In fact, Jim was pivotal in the creation of Bluecoats Party in the Plaza in 2021, a new arts festival and free Bluecoats concert in downtown Canton. He was passionately engaged as a constituent and advocate of the Bluecoats organization as it returned from the canceled 2021 season.

Betty Smith wearing an En-Rich-Ment hoodie and smiling while leaning against an En-Rich-Ment sign.

Few members of the Canton community have had a greater impact on this community’s youth than Betty Smith. After an incredible career running a recovery home in Chicago for women and children, Betty’s “retirement” included founding, scaling, and operating En-Rich-Ment of Stark County, a gem of an institution that provides free after school and weekend performing arts and life skills classes to the youth of our community. On any given day, Betty can be found administering the nonprofit, teaching the kids, or advocating for the benefit of En-Rich-Ment. It is hard to understate just how much Betty works to improve her community through this program and through advocacy for everyone’s quality of life in Canton, OH. Bluecoats is especially proud of Betty’s work leading the En-Rich-Ment drumline, and watching young kids flourish behind a drum.

Mike Scott
Mike Scott is a clinician, consultant, and the CEO of Rhythm X, Inc., a non-profit music education company in Dayton, Ohio. Mike earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio in 2012. There he studied percussion and conducting and completed the Farmer School of Business Summer Institute. Before beginning his career as an administrator and teacher, Mike was an active performer in the marching arts. In 2011 Mike was the conductor of the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps of Canton, Ohio and was a performer in Rhythm X’s percussion ensemble from 2011-2012. Mike was also a member of the Miami University Marching Band for four years, serving as the drum major during the 2011 and 2012 seasons. In 2013 Mike began work at Rhythm X, Inc. as the Operations Director, managing the business development and logistics of the organization. He was also the Director of Instrumental Music at St. Ursula Academy in Toledo, Ohio. There he taught band, orchestra, and general music in grades 6-12. Prior to the 2015 competitive season, Mike became the first full-time employee at Rhythm X, Inc. as the company’s CEO. There he works with the organization’s President Tim Fairbanks to develop the future strategy of the company. During the summer months, Mike travels the country with the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps as the group’s Tour Administrator. He has also served as the tour manager of The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps of Allentown, Pennsylvania. Mike proudly endorses Innovative Percussion, Etymotic Research, and Fred J. Miller Inc.
http://mikewscott.com
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