The 2014 Vincent Legacy Scholars

For the ninth consecutive year, Starlight Theatre has delivered welcome news to three area middle school students, their parents and teachers. An avid proponent of performing arts education, Starlight presented $2,500 Vincent Legacy Scholarships to fund professional training in acting, singing and dance to two students who attend Arrowhead Middle School in Kansas City, Kan., and a third student who is home-schooled in Olathe, Kan. Including the 2014 recipients, 22 Vincent Legacy Scholarships have been awarded since 2006 with a total value of $55,000.

This year’s Vincent Legacy Scholarship recipients are Zachery Garner and Amari Lewis of Kansas City, Kan., and Kathryn “Katy” Werner of Olathe. The students were selected from among minority middle school students who applied for the 2014 scholarship and seven finalists who auditioned at Starlight in early April.

This year’s recipients were formally announced prior to the July 12 performance of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Scholarship winners are selected not only because they exhibit a passion for performing arts, but also because they are excellent students, have an exceptional attendance record and also give back to others through community service.

Vincent Legacy Scholarship recipients: Kathryn “Katy” Werner, Zachery Garner and Amari Lewis.

Starlight is thrilled to honor this year’s recipients:

• Kathryn “Katy” Werner (homeschooled student) studies ballet, tap, jazz and hip hop at Miller Marley School of Voice and Dance in Overland Park and has performed in more than 20 musicals in Kansas City, most recently appearing in Avila University’s production of Bye Bye Birdie in December. When not studying or performing, Katy likes to bake, especially “delicious brownies!”
• Zachery Garner (Arrowhead Middle School) excels in acting and has a keen interest in puppetry performance and direction. During his three years at Arrowhead, he has participated in theatre classes, afterschool plays and other artistic activities. He also has performed in church plays and choir, taken acting classes at the Coterie Theatre and interned with Paul Mesner Puppets.
• Amari Lewis (Arrowhead Middle School) is an aspiring singer. Amari most recently performed in the Lyric Opera of Kansas City’s production of La bohéme in March. She has also taken dance instruction at Alvin Ailey.

For more information about the Vincent Legacy Scholarship, contact the Starlight Education Department at education@kcstarlight.com or 816.997.1134.