The International Thespian Society annually awards this $1,000 scholarship to two Thespians who exemplify the ideal of the International Thespian Society. Judges are looking for originality of service, contributions of talent and service to the positive image and ideals of the International Thespian Society and theatre education, and benefit of service to productions, program, school, community, and peers. This year’s recipients are Serena Froehlich, Troupe 6730, Liberty High School, Las Vegas, Nevada, and Bailey Heppler, Troupe 6356, Lewis & Clark High School, Spokane, Washington.
Froehlich plans to study sociology at the College of Southern Nevada. She says, “A couple years ago, we went to a nearby junior high for a week and taught fun and creative acting and technical classes every day after school, in hopes of sparking an interest in the arts, because we felt that it was necessary to give students important creative skills to guide them through life. Our main goal was – and is – to promote theatre in a positive light. Theatre is seen as where the ‘outcasts’ go, and we want to show that it is a place where anyone can come to feel welcomed and be able to prove that they can do anything, despite how others see them, and that’s how we use our platform to speak up about what we do.”
Heppler plans to study scenic design and has been accepted at UNCSA, CalArts, and the University of Montana. She says, “For the past two years, I have showcased my scenic design for Individual Events, and as a result, my troupe director has now made all student-designed shows a lot more prevalent. I now am a resource for kids in stagecraft to learn how to use new tools, how to draft, and how to hang and focus lights. Showing people these skills really expands on their confidence in their own ability, and that to me is what the EdTA and the International Thespian Society is all about.”
