ARTS COUNCIL OF JOHNSON COUNTY ANNOUNCES 2024 SHOOTING STARS SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

18 High School Seniors Receive College Scholarships For Excellence in the Literary, Performing and Visual Arts 99 High School Seniors Nominated in Nine Categories OVERLAND PARK, Kans. – April 7, 2024– The Arts Council of Johnson County announced 18 scholarship recipients at the 2024 Shooting Stars Gala on Sunday, April 7 at Johnson County Community College. This 27th annual Shooting Stars Gala honored 99 Johnson County high school seniors for achievement in the literary, performing, and visual arts through recognition and college scholarships. This special recognition program was created in 1997 by former Arts Council of Johnson County chairman Bob Endres. Bob’s vision was to

2024 Shooting Stars Finalist

The Arts are important to every community’s quality of life and are an essential part of every student’s educational experience. Arts and creativity teach innovation, critical thinking, collaboration, communication and self-expression. The Shooting Stars Program celebrates Johnson County high school seniors for their excellence in the arts. Shooting Stars has recognized more than 1,000 high school seniors since 1997. Join us for the 2024 Gala on April 7, 2024. During the event we'll announce nine first place scholarships ($1400), nine second place scholarships ($700), and nine teacher honorariums ($300)! Thank you to the foundations, businesses and individuals who make Shooting Stars possible. Get

2023 Shooting Stars Scholarship Recipients

Two-Dimensional Art- 1st Place Scholarship Recipient Jade Achen Shawnee Mission East High School Nominated by Adam Finkelston Two-Dimensional Art- 2nd Place Scholarship Recipient Patty Morales Blue Valley North High School Nominated by Tom Holland Three-Dimensional Art- 1st Place Scholarship Recipient Mira Becker Blue Valley West High School Nominated by Nicholas Tomasic Three-Dimensional Art- 2nd Place Scholarship Recipient Audrey Roberts Blue Valley Northwest High School Nominated by Carly Kimbrough Literature- 1st Place Scholarship Recipient Tess Vanberg Blue Valley High School Nominated by Maureen Davis Literature- 2nd Place Scholarship Recipient Sydney Bonnstetter De Soto High School Nominated by Ryan Meara Photography- 1st Place Scholarship Recipient Julia Schnittker Shawnee Mission South High School Nominated by Mark Rice Photography- 2nd Place Scholarship Recipient Sophia Volovoy Blue Valley Northwest High School Nominated by Brian Pollack Production &

2023 Shooting Stars Finalists

The Arts make an important contribution to any community’s quality of life and are an essential part of every student’s educational experience, teaching 21st Century workplace skills, innovation, critical thinking, collaboration, communication and self-expression. The Shooting Stars Program celebrates young artists and arts educators for their artistic achievements with college scholarships, awards and honorariums. Since 1997, the Shooting Stars Program has recognized over 1,000 high school seniors for their artistic excellence and contributions to their community. Nine first place scholarships of $1,400 each, nine second place scholarships of $700 each and nine teacher honorariums* of $300 each will be awarded (*to the nominating teacher of

2022 Shooting Stars Scholarship Recipients

Lilliana Hughey, 2022 Shooting Stars 2D Visual Arts 1st Place Scholarship Recipient Lilliana Hughey was nominated by Lori Ludwig and attends Olathe East High School. Noah Green, 2022 Shooting Stars 2d Visual Arts 2nd Place Scholarship Recipient Noah Green was nominated by Roger Messersmith and attends Olathe South High School. Maya Flynn, 2022 Shooting Stars 3D Visual Arts 1st Place Scholarship Recipient Maya Flynn, was nominated by Jennifer Hensley and attends Shawnee Mission East High School Kastin Galloway, 2022 Shooting Stars 3D Visual Arts 2nd Place Scholarship Recipient Kastin Galloway was nominated by Brad Reinking and attends Spring Hill High School Rachael Mallozzi, 2022 Shooting Stars Literature 1st

2023 Shooting Stars Judges

Ebonee Thomas, 2023 Shooting Stars Winds & Percussion Category Judge Ebonee Thomas is currently the Second Flute and Piccolo of The Dallas Opera. She has previously served as Principal Flute of the Knoxville Symphony, Principal Flute of the Florida Grand Opera, and Second Flute of the Houston Symphony. Ebonee spends her summers as a flutist with the Central City Opera in Colorado. She has also been guest principal with the Seattle Symphony, Fort Worth Symphony, San Antonio Symphony, and Santa Fe Opera. She received her Bachelor of Music degree from Southern Methodist University, her Master of Music degree from the New

2022 Shooting Stars Finalists

The Arts make an important contribution to any community’s quality of life and are an essential part of every student’s educational experience, teaching 21st Century workplace skills, innovation, critical thinking, collaboration, communication and self-expression. The Shooting Stars Program celebrates young artists and arts educators for their artistic achievements with college scholarships, awards and honorariums. Since 1997, the Shooting Stars Program has recognized over 1,000 high school seniors for their artistic excellence and contributions to their community. Nine first place scholarships of $1,400 each, nine second place scholarships of $700 each and nine teacher honorariums* of $300 each will be awarded (*to the nominating teacher of

2021 Shooting Stars Visual Arts Digital Exhibition Catalog

Below is the Digital Exhibition Catalog for the 2021 Shooting Stars Program. This Exhibition is virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic and was curated by the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art. The Digital Exhibition Catalog features artwork of Finalists in the 3D Visual Art, 2D Visual Art, and Photography categories. Elementia Magazine Publication The Johnson County Public Library publishes an issue of their elementia magazine every year, created and curated by their Young Adult Selection Committee. Many of our 2021 Shooting Stars Finalists' work was included in this year's publication!

2021 Shooting Stars Judges

Amado Espinoza, 2021 Shooting Stars Winds & Percussion Category Judge Amado Espinoza is a unique performing artist, composer and instrument maker from Cochabamba, Bolivia, that respects his folk traditions of the Andes Mountains while creating compositions that are sincere to his musical-wanderlust personality.  Since making Kansas City his home in 2014, Amado has been featured on TedxKC, Kansas City Folk Festival, Native American Harvest Moon Festival, and more.  He is a grant recipient of the Lighton International Artist Exchange Program (2019), Folk Alliance International Music Conference scholarship recipient (2015), ArtsKC Inspiration Grant recipient (2016), Charlotte St. Foundation resident (2015-2017) and 2017 Generative

2021 Shooting Stars Finalists & Scholarship Recipients

The Arts make an important contribution to any community’s quality of life and are an essential part of every student’s educational experience, teaching 21st Century workplace skills, innovation, critical thinking, collaboration, communication and self-expression. The Shooting Stars Program celebrates young artists and arts educators for their artistic achievements with college scholarships, awards and honorariums. Since 1997, the Shooting Stars Program has recognized over 1,000 high school seniors for their artistic excellence and contributions to their community. Nine first place scholarships of $1,400 each, nine second place scholarships of $700 each and nine teacher honorariums* of $300 each were awarded (*to the nominating teacher of the