By Emily Reed/Special to the Reporter

Thompson High School’s Theatre Department recently won several awards and scholarships after competing in the 76th Walter Trumbauer State Theatre Competition in Florence.

“The kids did great,” said Jane Ganey, theater teacher at Thompson High School. “I always enjoy taking them to state, and I think we did really well this year.”

The students were recognized during a recent Alabaster Board of Education meeting for their accomplishments.

The group won two state awards, two students each received a $1,000 scholarship from the Alabama Conference of Theatre, and many of the students competed and received superior and excellent rankings at the event.

Ganey said this is the first time for THS students to be selected for scholarships.

“I was thrilled to hear we won two of those this year,” Ganey said. “We have previously received scholarships if one of our students was selected as an alternate, but we have never won them.”

Ganey said those selected for scholarships are picked out of 98 students that audition, and out of five that were awarded, THS received two.

Hope Martin received a $1,000 scholarship in the category of “performance” and Cecilia Koloski received a $1,000 scholarship in the category of “technical theatre.”

The Alabama Conference of Theatre Scholarship is an award presented annually to a high school senior or community or junior college transfer student at the Trumbauer Festival during the ACT Scholarship Screening Audition.

The scholarship is presented to the student when they register with an accredited undergraduate college or university in Alabama with the intention of majoring in theatre.

Other criteria considered for the scholarship includes a minimum GPA of 2.5, artistic involvement, and quality of work, according to the Alabama Conference of Theatre’s website.

Brittany Hodge won a first place state award for “sound design varsity,” and Sarah Avery Vises won a second place state award for “stage management novice.”

Students who received excellent rankings included Kayla Hayes, Emma Littlefield, Sophie Mushlansky and Carlos Garza.

Students who received superior rankings included Siera Heiner, Kate Workman, Maddie Hill, Sophie Mushlansky, Jacquelyn Vaughn, Cecilia Koloski, Randi Mitchell, Vanson Clendenin, Dylan Buchannan, Salem Gaddis, Jamie Loren Howell, Tyler McCellan, Tori King, Marc Bray, Georgia Davenport, Rogelio Ramirez, Carlos Garza, and Katy Barnes.

School Board members recognized each individual student, and commended them for a job well done.

Ganey said students from THS have been attending the Trumbauer State Theatre Competition for more than 10 years.