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  • 1.  "Scholar Athlete" Award for Theatre?

    Posted 10-24-2022 08:40
    Hey guys:) A question... Does your school do anything at the school-wide Awards Night to recognize theatre students who have participated in multiple productions and maintained a high GPA? We have a "Scholar Athlete" award for sports, cheer, band... seemingly every category except theatre.  I realize that "Scholar Athlete" is probably not the right term... just wondering if other schools have a recognition of some sort that awards the kids for putting in so many hours and still keeping their grades up, and if so, what do you call it? 

    Lori Bush

    Director of Theatre Activities

    Pike County High School

    Pike County Middle School

     

     



  • 2.  RE: "Scholar Athlete" Award for Theatre?

    Posted 10-24-2022 10:43
    Hi Lori,

    We don't have "scholar athlete" awards but we do have the traditional Letter Awards. Just like all varsity athlete's can earn a Letter award (certificate, pin, chenille letter for their letter jacket) for outstanding work, I do the same for my theatre students. At our end of the year banquet I award my outstanding students with a Theatre Letter. We have four productions a year. The requirement is to be actively involved/dedicated in a minimum of two productions and maintain a 3.0 to earn a letter. I have a number of athletes in theatre as well so some only participate in one show during their off season so wouldn't qualify for a theatre letter. If a student is involved in multiple productions but doesn't do outstanding work and tries to squeak by on the bare minimum then they also don't get a letter (and a serious discussion takes place about their future involvement). 

    To honor specific academic achievement within your theatre students the International Thespian Society (ITS) has those distinctions already mapped out. If you have an ITS Troupe, the students inducted in your troupe are eligible for Academic Honor Certificates. Thespian Scholar earns 3.0-3.4, VP Thespian Scholar earns 3.5-3.9, Presidential Scholar earns 4.0+.  You can find those here.
    The ITS recognizes students for outstanding involvement in theatre too. The more points they earn the higher thespian status recognition they earn. You can find those certs in the same place as above.  In addition to the Theatre Letters, I recognize my thespians with academic achievement and outstanding involvement certificates at our banquet every year.

    If you don't have an ITS troupe you could still use their certificates as a guide to create your own.

    Hope this helps!

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    Jillian Lietzau
    Lutheran High School
    CO
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  • 3.  RE: "Scholar Athlete" Award for Theatre?

    Posted 10-25-2022 06:25
    Hi,

    Yes and no. Our school gives out T-shirts that have the term "scholar athlete" on the chest. I'm not sure if they receive them at awards night or how that works. But I do agree, Scholar artist has a nice ring to it.

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    Jennifer Trice
    Theatre Director
    Green Run High School
    VA
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  • 4.  RE: "Scholar Athlete" Award for Theatre?

    Posted 10-25-2022 06:40
    We always recognize our Junior Thespian members because it is an international honor society.

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    Amy MacCord
    Musical Theatre Teacher
    Westwood Middle School
    FL
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  • 5.  RE: "Scholar Athlete" Award for Theatre?

    Posted 10-25-2022 07:30
    We use the distinction "Thespian Scholar" that EDTA has provided.  There is a President's List, Vice President's List and standard Thespian Scholar ranks, if memory serves.  We used to order pins for all of the different honors that students earned for a time, but kids didn't really care about the "bling" - so we recognize them publicly at our banquet, and our principal usually includes a few remarks in his speech at graduation as he highlights different groups to rise for recognition.

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    Melissa Mintzer
    Penn Manor High School
    PA
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  • 6.  RE: "Scholar Athlete" Award for Theatre?

    Posted 10-25-2022 11:48

    Lori,

    Definitely use what EdTA has provided!  They have done the leg work on setting it up, and you can use it how you want!  I make a HUGE deal about this particular set of awards at our end of the year program to emphasize the well-rounded nature that is important in theatre.  

    Ray



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    Raymond Palasz
    Auditorium Director/Director of Theatre
    Munster High School
    IN
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  • 7.  RE: "Scholar Athlete" Award for Theatre?

    Posted 10-25-2022 14:38
    While other schools have thespian banquets, I recognize and honor my graduating thespians at our school's official Senior Awards Night. I use the official ITS criteria for award levels and make sure they're all announced for each student in this order: honor status, scholar status (ex: International Honor President's List Scholar).

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    Kaila Schwartz
    Theatre Arts, Director
    Milpitas High School
    CA
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  • 8.  RE: "Scholar Athlete" Award for Theatre?

    Posted 10-28-2022 13:38
    We don't have a "Scholar athlete" award, we use the EdTA distinctions, but we did start something a few years ago that we love, and this seems like a good time to share! Just like there are "signing ceremonies" for athletes who will continue their sport in college, we started an "Arts Signing Day" and recognize students who were accepted to some sort of arts program (studio art, dance, theatre, music, etc). It is just as difficult, if not even harder, to get into some of these programs. We have designed a shirt that we give them, and have a ceremony where we invite their parents, admin, etc. to acknowledge their accomplishments.

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    Mindy Reed
    Troupe #390
    Fairfield High School
    Fairfield, OH
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  • 9.  RE: "Scholar Athlete" Award for Theatre?

    Posted 10-28-2022 14:08
    These are all awesome ideas and suggestions! While I do recognize the students' thespian distinctions at our end-of-the year theatre banquet, I like the idea of using that term to propose recognition at the school-wide awards night.  Love the signing ceremony tradition also:) Thank you everyone!!

    Lori Bush

    Director of Theatre Activities

    Pike County High School

    Pike County Middle School