Siloam Springs High School students brought home seven awards and more than $15,000 in scholarship offers from the Arkansas Educational Theatre Association's annual State Thespian Festival on Feb 8-10.
During the event, held at Greene County Tech High School in Paragould, students attended workshops, interviewed for scholarships and competed in a variety of individual events to showcase their talents in acting, musical theater and technical theater.
Two Siloam Springs students, seniors Laurel Buxton and Cesar Carreno, received medallions for their work in theater, and troupe director Dana McCutchean was named the 2018 Gail Burns Educator of the Year during the event. Carreno's superior rating also qualified him to compete at the International Thespian Festival in Lincoln, Neb., June 25-30.
In addition, Siloam Springs High School's International Thespian Society Troupe #7982 applied for honor troupe status for the first time this year and received "Gold" status -- the highest available. The Arkansas Educational Theatre Association recognizes troupes who achieve a high level of excellence by sponsoring the AR EdTA Honor Troupe program, according to a press release from the organization. This achievement is meant for those troupes who do tremendous work in the school and community. Troupes are awarded bronze, silver or gold honor troupe status.
Gail Burns Educator of the Year Award
Students nominate their teachers for the Gail Burns Educator of the Year Award, according to the Arkansas Thespians website, arkansasthespians.org. It is presented to "a deserving teacher who exemplifies the best qualities of a teacher within his/her building, district and community," as well as "the very best in theatre educators," the entry form states.
McCutcheon said she was very surprised when her name was called to receive the award.
"I knew they had nominated me but I did not expect to receive an award, so yes it was a huge shock," she said.
McCutcheon has a bachelor's degree in fine arts with a concentration in theater and a master's degree from the University of Arkansas in secondary education. She has been teaching for 23 years and has worked in Siloam Springs since 2006. She currently teaches all of the theater arts classes in the high school, including theater arts I, II and III, beginning acting, and intermediate and advanced stage craft.
Medallions
Carreno received the superior medallion in solo musical, which qualifies him to compete in the International Thespian Festival at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in June. He also received a total of nearly $15,000 in scholarships from four different colleges.
Carreno got his start in theater his freshman year of high school at a theater troupe in Tulsa. He explained that even though he is from Siloam Springs, he has family in Tulsa that helped him get involved in theater. He auditioned for a minor role for his first production, and received the lead role for his second production.
Carreno got involved with the school's theater program during his sophomore year. He has performed in mostly comedic roles but hopes to play some dramatic roles in the future. He said he was very surprised when his name was called over and over during the awards ceremony.
" I was very surprised because when I was in line (for interviews) there were some talented people there and the competition was stiff. I got so many call backs, all from phenomenal colleges that seemed like great fits, I can't wait to be part of one of them," he said.
Carreno is planning on earning a bachelor's degree in fine arts for musical theater and hopes to have a career in theater.
"I want to make a living out of performing and doing what I love," he said.
Buxton received the honor thespian medallion, which recognized teacher-nominated students who are outstanding leaders in their troupe, the press release states. She also received a $1,000 college audition scholarship offer from Arkansas State University.
Buxton is a home school student who has participated in the SSHS theater program since her freshman year.
In the program she has helped with warm-ups, served as publicity manager and historian and last year took a different role and choreographed the troupe's spring musical.
She said her father advised her to be a leader wherever she can.
"I love performance and I just saw this as another opportunity to lead and also do what I love," she said of her theater involvement.
Siloam Springs High School students won the following additional awards:
• Jordan Tyler received an excellent certificate in costume design
• Marilyn Howerton and Jacklyn Waldrop received an excellent certificate in duet acting
• Payton Hickman received an excellent certificate in solo musical
• Carley Goggans received an excellent certificate in solo musical.
During the festival, the Arkansas Thespians Association gave out $1.25 million in scholarships. Siloam Springs students received the following scholarships:
• Buxton received a college audition scholarship offer from Arkansas State University in the amount of $1,000
• Carreno received an offer of $6,000 a year plus a merit scholarship from Ouachita Baptist University
• Carreno received a $5,000 scholarship from KD Conservatory College of Film & Dramatic Arts
• Carreno received a $3,000 scholarship from Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD) -- The University for Creative Careers
• Carreno received a $600 performance scholarship from the Educational Theatre Association (EdTA) College.
For more information on theatre at Siloam Springs High School or for ways to support the arts please contact the troupe director Dana McCutcheon at 479-524-5134 ext. 501250 or email [email protected].
General News on 03/14/2018