The Original Oyster House awards its 19th Annual Chelsea Garvin Spirit Scholarships to Isabelle Rutland of Bayside Academy and Ava Crone of Spanish Fort High School. Rutland plans to attend the University of Notre Dame and Crone plans to attend Auburn University this fall.
In 2006, the scholarship was founded in loving memory of Chelsea Garvin, who was an exceptional employee, a volunteer Fish River Fire Department Rescue Diver and a talented artist. Tragically at age 19, Chelsea died in a boating accident while volunteering.
This year’s awardees reflect Chelsea Garvin’s spirit and artistic talent. Rutland, who submitted an oyster triptych, masterly rendered her winning work with oil paints. She says her relocation to South Bend this fall will have her aching for that good-ole Southern cuisine. “Spicy crawfish, chargrilled oysters, popcorn shrimp, and any other seafood you can think of, have been my staple for as long as I can remember. I’ll always treasure memories of sitting across from my dad at the Oyster House, tearing through a plate of oysters on the half shell,” said Rutland. Crone, who painted a captivating oyster shell with pearls, highlights the value of oyster shells and importance of oyster shell recycling. “What a great opportunity to illustrate the impact the Oyster House has on our community and how art can illustrate what this restaurant means to them,” said Crone. The winning artworks will be on display at both Original Oyster House locations for patrons and tourists to enjoy.
The Original Oyster House has become the “must-go-to” place for great fresh Gulf seafood, service and Southern hospitality and for its panoramic locations. A top-spot for hand-shucked and fire-grilled oysters, the Original Oyster House has also become legendary for its homemade gumbo, cheesy grits with blackened shrimp as well as handcrafted cocktails and desserts including its famous peanut butter chocolate chip pie. Having been the first restaurant in the state to pilot the Oyster Recycling Shell program, the Original Oyster House supports the sustainability of oysters and is one of the only restaurants to [oyster garden], grow stocker oysters to refurbish the reef. In March of this year, over 23 million oyster shells have been saved from the landfill through the Alabama Coastal Foundation’s Oyster Shell Recycling program.
The Original Oyster House has two locations, Mobile: 3733 Battleship Parkway, on the Causeway and Gulf Shores: 701 Gulf Shores Parkway on the Original Oyster House Boardwalk. Both locations offer spectacular waterfront views, private party rooms and have been celebrated as the area’s finest family restaurants for the past 40 years. For more information about Original Oyster House, visit www.originaloysterhouse.com or call 251-928-2620.
