We have done signings in the past for students who receive large scale scholarships to study theatre. At our school athletic (and any other) signings happen more individual or in small groups usually during lunch with a celebration for the department and/or team, parents of the student, and media. Yes we have done them for theatre students but only if it involves a large scholarship to study theatre, which is the same for athletes or any other signings. We have had the theatre students sign a printed document with their scholarship parameters on it and if possibly have a representative from their college or alumni from the college present to represent the school.
We absolutely recognize Honor and Scholar Thespians at our Senior Recognition event. This is when all of the seniors receive their recognition and awards from honors organizations on campus like Beta, National Honor Society, and International Thespian Society. This is also an event where scholarships are sometimes recognized. For thespians, at senior recognition we not only give our the Honor and Scholar awards, which we use stoles, pins, cords, and medals for (depending on the level of their recognition) but we also recognize smaller college scholarships and local arts scholarships that aren't tied to a specific college (for instance our Thespian District does a scholarship program each year).
At our school, the arts programs are recognized as often as the athletic programs. Particularly our Culinary, Band, and Theatre programs are highly regarded. We don't necessarily receive the funding that athletics do, but we do receive similar respect and recognition in other areas. International Thespian Society is actually one of the largest and most active organizations on our campus and pretty highly regarded. It's cool and special and wasn't something that was treated this way when I was in high school so I'm proud to be a part of it now.
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Kathleen McNulty Mann
mcnulkl@bay.k12.fl.usArnold High School Theatre
Panama City Beach, FL
Program Director and Thespian Sponsor
Florida Association for Theatre Education
Board Member
Membership Committee Chair
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Original Message:
Sent: 05-04-2017 17:06
From: Cathy Swain-Abrams
Subject: Signing Day
Have any of you held an annual Arts Signing Day recognizing the students who have been accepted to pursue a major in performing arts or have received scholarships related to performing arts? We are throwing one together this year between fine and performing arts, roughly modeled after our schools athletic signing day. Wondering what others have done. Also, we have an annual ceremony recognizing seniors for academic achievements. It includes several athletic related academic awards. I know that scholar thespians are recognized by ITS. Wondering if any of you have incorporated arts scholars into a school-wide event like a senior academic awards night?
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Cathy Swain-Abrams
Teacher, Drama Director
Olentangy Local School District
Lewis Center OH
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