Awards, Grants, and Scholarships
EdTA raises the stature of theatre education by recognizing its members’ accomplishments, and strengthens the field by providing financial support to college-bound Thespians and those in need.
2020 Distinctions Granted
Awards
Grants
(including Thespian Relief Grants)
Scholarships
AWARDS
Outstanding School Award
Recognizing theatre programs that exemplify and promote high standards in educational theatre
Harry S. Truman High School
Troupe 5008
Levittown, Pennsylvania
Director Tracey Gatte
Millard West High School
Troupe 5483
Omaha, Nebraska
Director Brooke Phillip
New Albany High School
Troupe 4501
New Albany, Indiana
Director Amy Miller
Olathe South High School
Troupe 5006
Olathe, Kansas
Director David Tate Hastings
Outstanding Administrator Award
Recognizing outstanding individuals who have demonstrated exemplary support for educational theatre
Shellie Hatch
Director of curriculum and assessment at Pasco School District
Pasco, Washington
Home of Pasco High School
Troupe 6569
Inspirational Theatre Educator Award
Recognizing individuals who have inspired their students and dedicated themselves to providing high quality theatre education
Victoria Kesling-Councill
New Kent High School
Troupe 7644
New Kent, Virginia
Sarah Lindvall
West Forsyth High School
Troupe 7193
Cumming, Georgia
John Tourtellotte
Hollywood High School
Troupe 2487
Los Angeles, California
Honorary Thespian of the Year
Recognized for going above and beyond in their volunteer role
Debra Brinkman
Cape Central High School
Troupe 1508
Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Stephen Schwartz Musical Theatre Teacher of the Year
Recognizing the highest level of achievement for an outstanding middle or high school musical theatre teacher
Corey Mitchell
Northwest School of the Arts
Troupe 5634
Charlotte, North Carolina
Hall of Fame
Recognizing individual members who have made outstanding contributions to theatre education for 20 years or more
Tim Buchheit
St. Francis Borgia
Regional High School
Troupe 2787
Washington, Missouri
Michael Daehn
Retired from Ball State University
Muncie, Indiana
Marti Fowler
Retired from Hazelwood School District
Chesterfield, Missouri
Billy Houck
Reitred from Fremont High School, Troupe 2753
Carmichael, California
Spirit of Thespis Award
Recognizing school or individuals that demonstrate grace under pressure when faced with a serious challenge
Greg Shaw
Pittsburg High School
Troupe 3149
Pittsburg, Kansas
TIOS Outstanding Impact Award
Recognizing exemplary advocacy efforts for Theatre in Our Schools month and beyond
First Place
Leavenworth Senior High School
Troupe 287
Leavenworth, Kansas
Second Place
Pennsbury High School
Troupe 830
Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania
Third Place
Gulfport High School
Troupe 4779
Gulfport, Mississippi
Standing Ovation Award
Recognizing a corporation or organization that makes significant contributions to theatre education on the national level through philanthropic efforts or its programs and activities
SCHOLARSHIPS
Amy Bennett Musical Theatre Scholarship
Granted to a graduating senior entering a college program to major in musical theatre
Sophia Hillman
Olathe North High School
Troupe 3310
Olathe, Kansas
Board of Directors Scholarship
Granted to a Thespian alum college student pursuing a career in theatre education
Audrey Burgoon
Kansas State University
Bob and Marti Fowler Future Theatre Educator Scholarship
Granted to a student pursuing a theatre education major
Susan Nash
Canby Union High School
Troupe 632
Oregon City, Oregon
Christopher L. Hunt Scholarship
Granted to Thespians who plan to use skills learned in theatre in a business or marketing career
Jessa Laboissonniere
El Dorado High School
Troupe 199
Fullerton, California
Melba Day Henning Scholarship
Granted to a college student enrolled full-time pursuing theatre education studies
Hector Pascual Alvarez
California Institute of the Arts
Michael J. Peitz Leadership Scholarship
Granted to a Thespian who successfully demonstrates leadership abilities
Tiffany Hoang
Foster High School
Troupe 7961
Richmond, Texas
Presidents’ Leadership Scholarship
Granted to Thespians who successfully demonstrate leadership skills
Anna Hastings
Olathe South High School
Troupe 5006
Olathe, Kansas
Jennifer Jarvis
Newnan High School
Troupe 7132
Newnan, Georgia
GRANTS
BookTix National Conference Grants
Provides access to educators by covering their registration fees
Sarah Halstead
Fairview High School
Troupe 2866
Boulder, Colorado
Courtenay Cholovich
Dalton Middle School
Troupe 89484
Dalton, Georgia
Emily-Ann Moriarty
Barnett Junior High School
Troupe 89741
Arlington, Texas
Sadie Andros
Cape Henlopen High School
Troupe 1321
Lewes, Delaware
Autumn Caro
Kaffie Middle School
Troupe 88750
Corpus Christi, Texas
Kirsten McCleary
San Clemente High School
Troupe 3038
San Clemente, California
Jana Heyl
McDonough High School
Troupe 303
White Plains, Maryland
Doug Finney Festival Grant
Given annually to four inducted Thespians to attend the International Thespian Festival
Olivia Albertson
Prairie Heights High School
Troupe 7436
Orland, Indiana
Amber Berrey
Paola High School
Troupe 66
Paola, Kansas
Zoe Bowers
Urbana High School
Troupe 161
Urbana, Illinois
Andrew Spriggs
Jemicy School
Troupe 8269
Westminster, Maryland
Leadership Grant
Given to a Thespian who has demonstrated leadership through Thespian activities to attend International Thespian Festival
Campbell Lemons
O.D. Tompkins High School
Troupe 7963
Katy, Texas
Linda P. Wise Grant for Theatre Educators
Awarded to an EdTA member educator who presents a plan for an in-class program in need of financial support
Tonya Hayes
Gulfport High School
Troupe 4779
Gulfport, Mississippi
Ronald L. Longstreth ITF Grant
Given to a Thespian who is not a U.S. citizen to attend International Thespian Festival
Berenike Weiss
Augustusburg, Germany
Send a Leader Diversity Grant
Awarded to student Thespians with experience in diversity-based leadership, service, and social justice activities
Marissa Barker
Copperas Cove High School
Troupe 549
Copperas Cove, Texas
Tavis Cunningham
Hoke County High School
Troupe 4599
Raeford, North Carolina
Jeyna Lynn Gonzales
J. R. Arnold High School
Troupe 6371
Panama City Beach, Florida
Sara Gushue
St. Joseph’s Catholic School
Troupe 6388
Greenville, South Carolina
Cameron Holder
Grimsley High School
Troupe 7993
Greensboro, North Carolina
Caitlin Johnson
Jackson Academy
Troupe 8632
Jackson, Mississippi
Caleb Mosley
Smithson Valley High School
Troupe 3743
Spring Branch, Texas
Send a Troupe to International Thespian Festival
Awarded to a current Thespian troupe to help cover registration to attend the festival
Arnold High School
Troupe 6371
Panama City Beach, Florida
Director Kathleen McNulty Mann
