SCHOLARSHIP FUND
ALL KIDS SHOULD BE ABLE
TO FIND THEIR SPARK
AND LEARN TO SHINE.
ABOUT THE SCHOLARSHIP FUND
The Stage Right Arts Foundation Scholarship Fund makes performing arts programs in Kansas City accessible to all students, regardless of financial means. It is the eventual goal of this fund to provide financial assistance to students who want to participate in a range of arts education programs around the KC Metro.
It's important to remember that scholarships are not just for students with on-going need for financial assistance. Scholarships are also awarded to families experiencing temporary financial devastation caused by job-loss, home disaster or an number of financial challenges that can hit a family unexpectedly. Together, we can make sure no child has to lose their arts education when financial disaster hits the family.
OUR PLANS
ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP BUDGET >$25K
Needs-based Awards
Our first goal is to build the scholarship fund to $25,000 or greater. This milestone will allow us to fund needs based students around KC for single arts classes.
ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP BUDGET >$100K
Needs & Merit-based Awards
The second goal is to hit a $100K milestone to fund students from a variety of backgrounds - rewarding kids for success. With a $100K annual budget, we could not only fund needs based students in full year programs, but also grant additional merit-based, smaller awards to college students going in to arts education and administration.
It is our hope that approximately 5% of this budget would go to support the arts teachers of the future and encourage students to excel on their own merits, despite their parent's financial situation.
INDIVIDUAL SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS
THE STARS SCHOLARSHIP
in memory of Houston St. John (1996-2013)
The Stars Scholarship is given to outstanding high school students who exemplify leadership, kindness and talent. The Scholarship covers the cost of a local musical theatre summer camp (a $475 value) for two male high school performers each year. Funds for this are raised during the annual "Spaghetti Dinner" cabaret (no cut show students put on). While many scholarships are given for the summer camp program, this award is earned through leadership qualifications in addition to need.
This scholarship is given in memory of Houston St. John, who played Javert in Stage Right Performing Arts' 2013 production of Les Miserables. Houston created a lasting legacy in his all too short life by being an incredibly kind, humble and encouraging person who always went out of his way to make everyone feel like a star. The scholarship name was derived from both the Stage Right Performing Arts' motto and the iconic song "Stars" which Houston performed in Les Miserables.
The first Stars Scholarships were awarded in 2014.