The 2010 Joyce Schultheiss Memorial Scholarship were held on March 7th at Kalamazoo Civic Theatre and this year the Techies take it!  It's rather unusual to have a student bring a Technical Audition rather than an Acting audition, but three out of five students, who were vying for a share of the over $3,000 in CTAM scholarship funds, did exactly that!  And they swept the winnings with both the first and second place awards!

Kerry Concannon, sponsored by Rosedale Community Players, and Kelsey Socha, sponsored by Kalamazoo Civic Theatre, took first and second place respectively.  Kerry, who is a Senior at Groves High School in Beverly Hills, MI won the $2,260 First Place CTAM Scholarship Award with an outstanding Technical Audition focused on Stage Managing.  Her presentation skills and portfolio totally impressed the three adjudicators, and we all wanted to hire her on the spot!

Kelsey, a Senior at Kalamazoo Central High School in Kalamazoo, MI, won the $758 Second Place Award with a very detailed, very well thought out presentation focused on Costuming, although she covered other areas illustrating her technical prowess.

Also impressing the adjudicators were three other students.  Presenting Acting Auditions were the talented Dylan Ratell, sponsored by Bay City Players, and a Freshman at Central Michigan University:; and Jordan Michaels, sponsored by Old Town Playhouse, and a Senior at Traverse City West Senior High School in Traverse City, MI.  Rounding out the Technical Auditions with a focus on Stage Lighting, was the very knowledgeable Catherine Lee, sponsored by Rosedale Community Players, and a Freshman at Oakland Community Collage in Royal Oak, MI.

Many thanks go to Kalamazoo Civic Theatre and Preston Misner who served as our gracious hosts to this year's Scholarship Auditions.  Also our appreciation goes out to our three wise adjudicators, Joanne Berry of Bay City Players, Mary Jo Denolf of Grand Rapids Civic Players, and Larry Nielson of Twin City Players.  All three gave great feedback to the students during the auditions.  Kevin Arnett of Grand Rapids Civic served as our fabulous Timekeeper and official Photographer, as he has at so many of the CTAM Scholarship Auditions!

Of course, this Scholarship wouldn't be possible without the generosity of the CTAM Membership, who buy and buy and buy all those raffle tickets at the annual Fall Conference; and our Anonymous Donor, who has been so very generous these many years by matching all the funds collected at the raffle!