112 E 11th . Hays, Kansas . 785-625-7522
Now in its 28th year, Hays Arts Council FAMOUS FIGURES is a living history and performance project open to 5th grade students in Ellis County public & private schools. It involves a short performance as a favorite person (living or deceased) from the present through distant past. The project promotes the use of research skills, awareness and appreciation of the qualities of a positive role model, thinking and writing in a creative manner, and developing acting and public speaking skills. This year's Famous Figures Final Competition was held on Friday, May 5 in the Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center. We are proud to have this annual project sponsored by the Hays Rotary Club, with additional project support from the Heartland Community Foundation.
2024 Famous Figures
2024 Trophy Winners (from left to right)
1st place - Jaden Brull (Holy Family) as Hedy Lamarr
2nd place - Byron Burns (O’Loughlin) as Moe Howard
3rd place (tie) - Katie Hines (Washington) as Betsy Ross
3rd place (tie) - Ava Ryan (Roosevelt) as Clara Barton
4th place - Olivia Eck (St. Mary's) as Mamie Till
5th place - Elliott Howden (Wilson) as Napoleon Bonaparte
Thank you!
2023 FAmous Figures
To the left are the students receiving awards, with their names, schools & characters listed below.
Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center technical staff provided live-stream services, uploaded through FHSU's Tiger Media Network, recording the complete 2023 final competition event, from welcome through awards ceremony (video below). For ease of targeting viewing, the following link includes the list of performances in order, with the minute/hour time mark that a performance occurs in the 2023 video (below).
2022 FAmous Figures
To the left are the students receiving awards, with their names, schools & characters listed below.
1st - Evie Dietz as Joan of Arc
2nd - Myles Archer as Babe Ruth
3rd - Kendall Seiler as Elizabeth Smith Friedman
4th - Mason Rozean as Alexander Graham Bell
5th (tie) - Andrew Meagher as Nick Saban
5th (tie) - Josiah Olmstead as Charles M. Schultz
5th (tie) - Ellee Lang as Sally Ride
5th (tie) - Levi Denham as Antonín Dvořák
2016-2024 classroom finalists
2024 Famous Figures
school finalists
2023 Famous Figures
school finalists
2022 Famous Figures
school finalists
2019 Famous Figures
school finalists
2018 Famous Figures
school finalists
2017 Famous Figures
classroom finalists
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