Now in its 26th 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 will be held on Friday, May 6 in the Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center. We are proud to have this annual project supported by the Hays Rotary Club.
Martha Miller (O'Loughlin Elementary) as William Shakespeare
Emma Downing (O'Loughlin Elementary) as Susan B. Anthony
Alayda Cano (O'Loughlin Elementary) as Malala Yousafzai
Summer Hackworth (O'Loughlin Elementary) as Amelia Earhart
Larryn Braun (Victoria Elementary) as Bethany Hamilton
Jack Stoecklein (Holy Family Elementary) as Erno Rubik
Eli Kerr (Wilson Elementary) as Willis Carrier
Shiloh Gaschler (St. Mary's Grade School) as Howard Carter
With gathering restrictions & COVID-19 protocols in place at FHSU through the end of May, we were not be able to hold our traditional final competition "live" in Beach/Schmidt. However, still wanting to return to a somewhat traditional competition format, we decided to record the classroom finalists (all performances available below), providing for a uniform and fair judging review & process.
Each of our 5 judges watched and reviewed the videos independently. They (with their backgrounds) were: Linda Hohman (drama instructor & playwright), Bruce Bardwell (FHSU technical theatre director, instructor, & actor), Janis Lee (HAC board & Rotary member, former Kansas senator), Mary Ann Thompson (Encore Series committee member, HAC board member & Hays Library Kansas Room director), and Mike Morley (HAC board president, Rotary Club member, Midwest Energy Communications director).
The videos were presented to them with NO information on students or schools - only the individual performances, randomly ordered as you find them here. Their results were returned electronically, after which our traditional scoring & final ranking format was used to determine the 1st through 5th place awards. And, as has often happened in past years, there were performances whose scores were tied. . . and rather than break ties, we just purchase additional trophies! (thank you Rotary!)
Holy Family Elementary (l to r) : Jack Stoecklein, Emma Wasinger, Khloe Vahling, Thomas Meagher
portrayed by LINDYN JOCHUM
representing Wilson Elementary
portrayed by TRENT RYAN
representing O'Loughlin Elementary
portrayed by KAYLEE KOLLMAN
representing Roosevelt Elementary
portrayed by JAYDE BERRY
representing Wilson Elementary
as portrayed by JACK STOECKLEIN
representing Holy Family Elementary
portrayed by ABRIENNE PRINCE
representing Lincoln Elementary
portrayed by LYLA RODGER
representing Victoria Elementary
portrayed by AYAHANA GIBSON
representing Roosevelt Elementary
portrayed by SUMMER HACKWORTH
representing O'Loughlin Elementary
portrayed by ELI KERR
representing Wilson Elementary
portrayed by EMILY ZOLNIERZ
representing O'Loughlin Elementary
portrayed by EMMA DOWNING
representing O'Loughlin Elementary
portrayed by MARLEY KOENIGSMAN
representing Roosevelt Elementary
portrayed by KADEN VONFELDT
representing Victoria Elementary
portrayed by JESSICA GORACKE
representing Lincoln Elementary
portrayed by ELISABETH BERGMAN
representing USD489 2021 Remote Learning
portrayed by COLLEEN SMITH
representing Lincoln Elementary
as portrayed by EMMA WASINGER
representing Holy Family Elementary
portrayed by MILES WEIMER
representing Wilson Elementary
portrayed by LIBBY SCHIEL
representing Washington Grade School (Ellis)
portrayed by COLTAN MADER
representing St. Mary's Gr. Sch. (Ellis)
portrayed by MILES DAY
representing Roosevelt Elementary
portrayed by HAYLEE COMER
representing Washington Gr. Sch. (Ellis)
portrayed by LARRYN BRAUN
representing Victoria Elementary
as portrayed by THOMAS MEAGHER
representing Holy Family Elementary
portrayed by ADDISON VONLINTEL
representing Victoria Elementary
portrayed by DEXTER SULLIVAN
representing Lincoln Elementary
as portrayed by KHLOE VAHLING
representing Holy Family Elementary
portrayed by ALAYDA CANO
representing O'Loughlin Elementary
portrayed by BLADYN WERTH
representing Wilson Elementary
portrayed by ANA LOPEZ
representing Wilson Elementary
portrayed by MARTHA MILLER
representing O'Loughlin Elementary
portrayed by LAYLAH PFANNENSTIEL
representing Roosevelt Elementary
as portrayed by JAMES DICKMAN
representing Lincoln Elementary
portrayed by SHILOH GASCHLER
representing St. Mary's Gr. Sch. (Elllis)
portrayed by MADELYN WILKINS
representing Roosevelt Elementary
2019 Famous Figures
classroom finalists
2018 Famous Figures
classroom finalists
2017 Famous Figures
classroom finalists
2016 Famous Figures
classroom finalists
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