PENDLETON — Pendleton Players, the Pendleton Heights High School theater group, conducted its annual Thespy Awards on May 8 with a virtual ceremony online.
The Thespian Society, the honor society of the group, inducted 30 new members celebrating their dedication and hard work in the theater program.
The new inductees are Bryce Axel-Adams, Sylvia Bobb, Jarrett Brooks, Emma Caldwell, Cade Campbell, Sydney Case, Paige Cesnik, Chloe Clark, Kylie Day, Taylor Eads, Bria Grobey, Bailee Hilpisch, Gabe Holland, Tanner Huffman, Layla Jones, Zoe Korbe, Joel Lyons, Jackson McKinney, Baylie Merritt, Ashton Richardson, Corydon Roots, Jillian Sabotnik, Zach Sanford, Lily Schaefer, Gavin Schug, Cayden Sisson, Camille Spencer, Harrison Stull, Diana Talbot and Lizbeth Vazquez.
New officers were installed for the 2020-21 school year: Leah Manges, president; Harrison Stull, vice president; Jillian Sabotnik, secretary; Katie Martin, treasurer; and Vincent Spear, clerk.
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Many other Thespian Society awards were given for service in the form of thespian stars. Every star equates to 10 points or about 10 hours of participation during the year.
This year 22 students received the One Star Award, 11 students received the Two Stars Award, three students received the Three Stars Award, two students received the Four Stars Award and two students received the Five Stars Award.
When students reach 60 points they are awarded Honor Thespian status. This year, the group awarded seven Honor Thespians with medals. They were Evelyn Garard, Amelia Meiers, Macin Precup, Luke Robinson, Alex Hardin, Ashley Ritchie and Leah Manges.
When students reach 100 points they are awarded National Honor Thespian. This is really quite an accomplishment, and we have only had a few students in the 20-year history of our troupe reach that status. This year that distinction was awarded to Ashley Ritchie, Leah Manges, Alex Hardin and Parker Smith.
If a student reaches 120 points, he or she is awarded International Honor Thespian. This has never been awarded by our troupe because a student has to be very active both on stage and behind the scenes as well as participate in other theater-related activities. This year we had the privilege of awarding that first International Honor Thespian to Parker Smith.
While the initiated Thespians are very active, they also maintain a high level of scholastic achievement. The organization awarded Thespian Scholar pins to those students maintaining a 3.0 grade-point average or better: Gretchen Brumbaugh, Cade Campbell, Kate Ferge, Bryce Hatfield, Addison Magers, Jaden Precup and Zach Sanford. Vice Presidential Scholar pins were award to students who have maintained a 3.5 or better grade-point average: Sophia Fonacier, Jared Mossoney, Kyndal Sagarsee, Parker Smith and Nathan Spencer. Presidential Scholar pins were awarded to students earning a 4.0 or above to Evan Bobb, Emma Caldwell, Anna Childers, Dawson Garner, Delaney Gillespie, Alex Hardin, Averi Lanman, Jackson McKinney, Amelia Meiers, Quinn Miles, Macin Precup and Elayna Sisson.
After concluding the Thespian portion of the awards ceremony, the group also honored the more than 50 graduating seniors who have participated in the theater program. This is the largest group of seniors ever honored by the group. There were also special crystal trophies presented to the 16 seniors who have participated in theater activities during all four years of high school. Those 4-Year Senior Participation Awards went to Gretchen Brumbaugh, Cade Campbell, Kate Ferge, Dawson Garner, Delaney Gillespie, Alex Hardin, Bryce Hatfield, Grace McKinnies, Amelia Meiers, Quinn Miles, Jaden Precup, Macin Precup, Lukas Robinson, Kyndal Sagarsee, Parker Smith and Nathan Spencer.
Pendleton Players Awards were also presented for Outstanding Achievement in Sound to Amelia Meiers, Outstanding Achievement in Costuming to Sophia Fonacier, and Outstanding Achievement in Props to Anna Childers. A special Skater Award was presented to Quinn Miles for her outstanding work as a skater in many of the productions. A Spirit Award was presented to Bryce Hatfield for his unwavering positive attitude and spirit.
In the Technical Theater area, the Director’s Award was presented to Ashley Ritchie for her outstanding work behind the scenes and most notably as a stage manager for many of the auditorium events.
Parker Smith was awarded the STAR (Superior Technical Achievement Recognition) Award for his outstanding contributions in the area of technical theater, including many of the costume designs and masks for “The Lion King”; creation of the transforming Elsa dress for East Elementary production of “Frozen, Jr.”; a transforming Cinderella dress for Footlight Musical’s production, as well as numerous sculpting, painting and crafting projects.
The Shooting Star Award honors a student who came to the program as junior and shines so brightly in their achievement in the shortened time frame of participation and was presented to Jared Mossoney.
The Performance Awards acknowledge achievement in the area of acting and performance. The Thespian Troupe membership votes on these awards and makes the final selection of winners. For Best Supporting Actress, the winner was Bria Grobey for her portrayal as Deb in “Elf.” For Best Supporting Actor, the winner was Harrison Stull for his portrayal as Michael in “Elf.” Best Actress was awarded to Katie Martin for her portrayal as Jovie in “Elf.” Best Actor was awarded to Alex Hardin for his portrayal as Buddy the Elf in “Elf.”
Pendleton Players also awarded BRAVO Awards for outstanding achievement in acting performance for their body of work as principles over the course of the past four years. This award went to Alex Hardin and Parker Smith.
Every year, the Pendleton Players remembers those we have lost. One of the first awards in this area, are the two scholarships awarded in memory of Brenda Ketring. She was a parent volunteer who continued to help Pendleton Players program in so many ways even after her two girls graduated. She made costumes as well as handled the concession and merchandise sales at events, to name only a couple of her contributions. She was a founding member of the SPOTS (Supportive People of Theatre Students) booster group as well. Following the fall production of “Annie Get Your Gun” in the fall of 2016 (the first show this year’s seniors did), Brenda was diagnosed with cancer. She died in February of that school year, and her family wanted to continue her tradition of giving and asked that in lieu of flowers money be sent to our group. That money, along with continued donations and a portion of concession sales the group continues to fund a scholarship in her name with recipients selected by her family. This year’s recipients of the Brenda Ketring Memorial Scholarships are Averi Lanman and Nathan Spencer.
Honoring other former Pendleton Players, the Corey Wise Memorial Award was presented to Lukas Robinson, and the Scott Studebaker Memorial Award was presented to Nathan Spencer. The Keelia Main Memorial Award was presented to Alex Hardin, and the Rachel Lakes Memorial Award was presented to MacinPrecup.
The Pendleton Players will all tell you how special these awards have become to them and what a fitting tribute to the memory of such special kids.
Finally, the Thespian of the Year is presented to the senior whose body of work over the four years reflects the Thespian motto, “Act well your part, there all the honor lies.” This year’s recipient — Parker Smith — has performed in all but one of the productions since coming to the high school as a freshman. He was actively involved backstage with all areas of the technical side as well as serving as president of the Thespian Troupe this year and assisting with those responsibilities.
Overall, a great year for the Pendleton Players and Thespian Troupe of Pendleton Heights High School. A final decision regarding the postponed production of “The Lion King” will be made by June 15.
