Famous Figures

Hays Arts Council FAMOUS FIGURES is a living history and performance project open to 5th grade students (all approximately 11 years old) in Ellis County, Kansas.  It involves a short performance as a favorite person (living or deceased) from the present or 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.  

Traditionally, following classroom and school competitions, the top two performers from each 5th grade classroom appear on stage before a panel of judges and a large audience, vying for 1st through 5thplace (typically 32-36 contestants). Due to COVID-19, neither the school nor county-wide competitions could take place. However, with the great enthusiasm for by both students and teachers, this year’s project has become a “Performance Showcase” and any interested Ellis County 5th grade student was invited to create a video of their performance, sharing it with our Hays Arts Council audience on Facebook and our website (www.haysartscouncil.org)  Videos were, of course, done at home – some with help from their parents, some created solely by the 5th graders themselves using only the most basic camera phone and limited sound recording. With there being no restrictions on the number of students per classroom or school and no competition to “bump” some passionate young performers, with 45 participants, there are more students showcased this year.

These young people will be rewarded with an engraved gold medal through the support of the Hays Rotary Club sponsorship.  We hope you, too, recognize the efforts of the students who were all courageous enough to share their talent and personal interests for all to see.