Shawnee Mission Students Earn Shooting Stars Scholarships

Members of the Shawnee Mission Class of 2020 have been recognized for their artistic excellence.

They were recently named recipients of Shooting Star Scholarship awards from the Arts Council of Johnson County during a virtual gala.

“In being chosen for your artistic talent and your scholarship, I would tell you that you are the best of the best,” Dr. Mary E. Davidson, honorary chair said to recipients at the gala.  “You can be very proud of this singular honor.”

The Shooting Stars program celebrates young artists and arts educators for their artistic achievements with college scholarships, awards, and honorariums. Arts teachers from schools throughout Johnson County are invited to nominate two students each year. Students are nominated for achievement in literacy, performing, and visual arts.

This year’s Shawnee Mission Shooting Star Scholarship Recipients are:
 

Production & Design
Zach Dulny, Second place, Shawnee Mission Northwest High School, nominated by Jason Coats

Strings 
Vincent Hsiung, First place, Shawnee Mission East High School, nominated by Adam Keda

3D Visual Art 
Bryn Montry, First place, Shawnee Mission East High School, nominated by Jennifer Hensley

2D Visual Art 
Nina Kulikov, First place, Shawnee Mission South High School, nominated by Jill Oliver

Voice Classical 
Julia Edeal, Second place, Shawnee Mission West High School, nominated by Derek Cross

Shawnee Mission student finalists include: 
Literature   
Ada Heller, Shawnee Mission Northwest High School, nominated by Ben Pabst
Jackson Weaver, Shawnee Mission East High School, nominated by Amy Andersen

Photography 
Jetzel Chavira, Shawnee Mission West High School, nominated by Greg Schieszer 
Summer Luna, Shawnee Mission Northwest High School, nominated by Kimberly Ruttan 
Sydni William, Shawnee Mission East High School, nominated by Adam Finkelston

Production & Design 
Megan DeVolder, Shawnee Mission East High School, nominated by Tom DeFeo 
Zach Dulny, Shawnee Mission Northwest High School, nominated by Jason Coats 
Lanie Hochenauer, Shawnee Mission South High School, nominated by Mark Swezey

Strings 
Connor Ampleman, Shawnee Mission West High School, nominated by Curtis Mulvenon 
Benjamin Holcomb, Shawnee Mission South High School, nominated by Jonathan Wiebe 
Vincent Hsiung, Shawnee Mission East High School, nominated by Adam Keda

Theatre Performance (including voice) 
Lucy Brock, Shawnee Mission East High School, nominated by Brian Cappello 
Alexa Morgan, Shawnee Mission South High School, nominated by Mark Swezey 
Erin Morgan, Shawnee Mission North High School, nominated by Chris Palmer

Three-Dimensional Art 
Bryn Montry, Shawnee Mission East High School, nominated by Jennifer Hensley 
Cindy Tran, Shawnee Mission South High School, nominated by Cortney Dougherty

Two-Dimensional Art 
Audrey Diggs, Shawnee Mission North High School, nominated by Stephanie Dalley 
Isabel Dory, Shawnee Mission Northwest High School, nominated by Melissa Terryberry 
River Hennick, Shawnee Mission East High School, nominated by Adam Finkelston 
Nina Kulikov, Shawnee Mission South High School, nominated by Jill Oliver

Voice Classical 
Julia Edeal, Shawnee Mission West High School, nominated by Derek Cross
Adam White, Shawnee Mission Northwest High School, nominated by Cassie Banion

Winds & Percussion 
Thomas Parnell, Shawnee Mission North High School, nominated by Chad Reed

At the gala, nine first place scholarships of $1,400 each, nine second place scholarships of $700 each and nine teacher honorariums of $350 were awarded. The Shooting Stars Recognition, Scholarship & Awards Program was created in 1997, by former Arts Council of Johnson County chairman Bob Endres. His vision was to create a program that celebrated young Johnson County artists for their artistic excellence in high school.

View the virtual gala