Now in its 29th 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 2 in the Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center. We are proud to have this annual project sponsored by the Hays Rotary Club and HAC operational funding support from the Kansas Arts Commission
link to 2025 details, rules, & judging form
2025 Performance Video & Photo Album Below
(right to left)
1st place - Muhammad Camran
2nd place (tie) - Evander Branaman
2nd place (tie) - Hannah Lohrmeier
2nd place (tie) - Layne Haffner
3rd place (tie) - Brynlee Johnson (not pictured)
3rd place (tie) - Griffin Dietz
4th place - Hattee Deutscher
5th place (tie) - Lola Gerber (not pictured)
5th place (tie) - Addyson McMillan
Beach/Schmidt PAC technical staff provided live-stream services, uploaded through FHSU's Tiger Media Network, recording the complete 2025 event, from welcome through awards ceremony (video below). For ease of targeted viewing, the link below includes the list of performances in order, with the minute/hour time mark noted that each performance occurs in the video
2024 Ellis County 5th Grade Classroom Finalists
2025 Famous Figures
school finalists
2024 Famous Figures
school finalists
2023 Famous Figures
school finalists
2022 Famous Figures
school finalists
2021 Famous Figures
award winners
* due to pandemic restrictions, the 2021 competition was conducted through HAC recorded performances - and in 2020, the project invited video submissions from 5th grade students, but no final competition was held
2019 Famous Figures
school finalists
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