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.

2021 Distinctions Granted

Awards

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Grants

AR Icon TRF Grants 1
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(including Thespian Relief Grants)

Scholarships

AR Icon Awards Scholarships
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(including chapter scholarships)

AWARDS

Outstanding School Award

Recognizing theatre programs that exemplify and promote high standards in educational theatre

Ashland High School Troupe sitting outside their school

McDonough High School
Troupe 303
Pomfret, Md.
Director Jana Whitlock Heyl

Ashland High School Outstanding School Award Winner

Ashland High School
Troupe 4630
Ashland, Ore.
Director Betsy Bishop

Outstanding Administrator Award

Recognizing outstanding individuals who have demonstrated exemplary support for educational theatre

Britta Adams EdTA Admin award

Britt Adams
Northwest Whittfield High School
Tunnel Hill, Ga. 
Troupe 7290

Nate Fancher, smiling, seated in a dark blue suit with a white tie

Nate Fancher
Saint Cloud High School
St. Cloud, Fla. 
Troupe 1826

Inspirational Theatre Educator Award

Recognizing individuals who have inspired their students and dedicated themselves to providing high quality theatre education

Roshunda Jones-Koumba headshot

Roshunda Jones
George Washington Carver Magnet High School
Houston, Texas
Troupe 6753

Nicole Morgan Award Winner

Nicole Morgan
Montgomery High School
Montgomery, Texas
Troupe 5986

Honorary Thespian of the Year

Recognized for going above and beyond in their volunteer role

Debra Brinkman

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

Roshunda Jones-Koumba headshot

Roshunda Jones
George Washington Carver Magnet High School
Houston, Texas
Troupe 6753

Holly Stanfield, 2016 Hall of Fame inductee

Holly Stanfield
Bradford High School
Kenosha, Wis.
Troupe 4982

Hall of Fame

Recognizing individual members who have made outstanding contributions to theatre education for 20 years or more

Gargus Hall of Fame winner

Valerie Gargus
Northern Burlington County Regional High School
Mount Laurel, N.J.
Troupe 4762

Jana Whitlock Heyl Hall of Fame Award Winner

Jana Whitlock Heyl
McDonough High School
Pomfret, Md.
Troupe 303

Jo Strom Lane black and white photo, smiling big with long brown hair

Jo Strom Lane
Roosevelt High School
Portland, Ore.
Troupe 7289

Spirit of Thespis Award

Recognizing school or individuals that demonstrate grace under pressure when faced with a serious challenge

Spirit of Thespis Award Greg Shaw 2020 with Plaque

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
TIOS Oustanding Impact Award Pennsbury High School

First Place
Pennsbury High School
Fairless Hills, Pa.
Troupe 830

Valley View High School accepting their award on a zoom call

Second Place
Valley View High School
Moreno Valley, Calif.
Troupe 4735

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
Schubert Logo

SCHOLARSHIPS

Amy Bennett Musical Theatre Scholarship

Granted to a graduating senior entering a college program to major in musical theatre
Sorensen Headshot

Grace Sorensen
Redmon Proficiency Academy
Redmon, Ore.
Troupe 7715

Board of Directors Scholarship

Created with donations by, and in honor of, past and current members of the EdTA Board of Directors

Perez EdTA Board of Directors

Charlotte Perez
Bowling Green High School
Bowling Green, Ohio
Troupe 1489

Kenny D. Hasija Scholarship

Supporting students from diverse groups historically underrepresented in the theatre industry

Joseph Headshot Hasija Scholarship

Trinity Joseph
Patapsco High School and Center for the Arts
Dundalk, Md.
Troupe 2891

Sarah Long Hasija Scholarship

Sarah Long
BridgelandHigh School
Cypress, Texas
Troupe 8503

Okwuosa Headshot Hasija Scholarship

Imani Okwuosa
Heritage High School
Conyers, Ga.
Troupe 4048

Melba Day Henning Scholarship

Granted to a college student enrolled full-time pursuing theatre education studies

Burgoon Melba day scholarship

Audrey Burgoon 
Kansas State University
Troupe 639 alum

Christopher L. Hunt Scholarship

Granted to Thespians who plan to use skills learned in theatre in a business or marketing career

Madison Crick Christopher Hunt Scholarship

Madison Crick
O’Connor High School
Helotes, Texas
Troupe 5872

Grace Kelly Scholarships

Awarded to outstanding student participants in the Thespy Awards

College scholarships awarded to graduating seniors:

Hammond Headshot

Margaret Hammond
Nuview Bridge Early College High School
Nuevo, Calif.
Troupe 8117

Lawton Headshot

Natalie Lawton
Redmon Proficiency Academy
Redmon, Ore.
Troupe 7715

Sorensen Headshot

Grace Sorensen
Redmon Proficiency Academy
Redmon, Ore.
Troupe 7715

Subramanyan Headshot

Pradanya Subramanyan
Clements High School
Sugar Land, Texas
Troupe 3689

Williams Headshot

Trysten Williams
George Washington Carver Magnet High School
Houston, Texas
Troupe 6753

Training scholarships to underclassmen:

Carter Headshot

Laila Carter
North Oconee High School
Bogart, Ga.
Troupe 7047

Person Icon Yellow

Dane Lackey
Marble Falls High School
Marble Falls, Texas
Troupe 3701

Stellmach Headshot

Emma Stellmach
Brownsburg High School
Brownsburg, Ind.
Troupe 2108

Vellandi Headshot

Jacki Vellandi
Orange County School of the Arts
Santa Ana, Calif.
Troupe 6826

Yim Headshot

Caroline Yim
Juanita High School
Kirkland, Wash.
Troupe 3422

Michael J. Peitz Leadership Scholarship

Granted to a Thespian who successfully demonstrates leadership abilities
Campodonico Peitz Scholarship

Nazarene Campodonico
Salem High School
Salem, Ga.
Troupe 5120

Presidents’ Leadership Scholarship

Granted to Thespians who successfully demonstrate leadership skills

Gao EdTA Presidents Scholarship

Rosanna Gao
William A. Shine – Great Neck South High School
Great Neck, N.Y.
Troupe 7486

JeynaLynnGonzales

Jeyna Lynn Gonzalez
J.R. Arnold High School
Panama City Beach, Fla.
Troupe 6371

GRANTS

BookTix National Conference Grants

Provides access to educators by covering their registration fees

BookTix Conference Grant Sadie Andros PHOTO

Sadie Andros
Cape Henlopen High School
Lewes, Del.
Troupe 1321

BookTix Conference Grant Autumn Caro PHOTO

Autumn Caro
Kaffie Middle School
Corpus Christi, Texas
Troupe 88750

BookTix Conference Grant Courtenay Cholovich

Courtenay Cholovich
Hammond Creek Middle School
Chattanooga, Tenn.
Troupe 89484

Doug Finney Festival Grant

Given annually to four inducted Thespians to attend the International Thespian Festival

Olivia Albertson

Name
XXX High School
City, State
Troupe 2866

Amber Berrey

Name
XXX High School
City, State
Troupe 2866

Zoe Bowers

Name
XXX High School
City, State
Troupe 2866

Andrew Spriggs

Name
XXX High School
City, State
Troupe 2866

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
Julie Estrada

Julie Estrada
Windsor High School
Windsor, Colo.
Troupe 31063

Leadership Grant

Given to a Thespian who has demonstrated leadership through Thespian activities to attend International Thespian Festival
Jodon ITF Leadership Grant

Alexis Jodon
Chartiers Valley High School
Bridgeville, Pa.
Troupe 2402

Ronald L. Longstreth ITF Grant

Given to a Thespian who is not a U.S. citizen to attend International Thespian Festival
Berenike Weiss

Berenike Weiss
Augustusburg, Germany

Send a Troupe to International Thespian Festival

Awarded to a current Thespian troupe to cover registration to attend the festival

Arnold High School

Arnold High School
Troupe 6371
Panama City Beach, Florida
Director Kathleen McNulty Mann

© 2021-2025 Educational Theatre Association

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