Courtesy Photo | Fort Knox Middle High School Drama students pause for a group photo during the...... read more read more
The Kentucky Thespian Festival (KTF), a prestigious event held annually in Owensboro, Kentucky, for more than 25 years boasts a remarkable showcase of talent from high schools across the state. This year, Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) Americas Fort Knox Middle High School’s Troupe 11673 emerged victorious in the Chapter Select competition, earning the honor to represent Kentucky at the International Thespian Festival.
The KTF, known for its diverse range of individual events (Thespys) including acting, musical theater, costume and set design, and more, culminates in the Chapter Select competition. Here, high school troupes present a one-act-play judged by a panel of experts.
Fort Knox Middle High’s Troupe 11673 captivated the judges with their performance of “I, Chorus,” directed by senior Luella Sikorski. The troupe received an impressive 19 out of 20 points from all three judges, marking their performance as superior.
Abigail Ziglar, who played ‘Oren’ and received an All-Star Thespian award, expressed her excitement: “It's really special that we will be able to represent Kentucky for the nation. I think it says a lot that military kids are the best in the state.”
This victory is particularly significant for Fort Knox Middle High School Drama, which only began participating in KTF last year. The troupe’s meteoric rise is attributed to the dedication and talent of its members. Last year, 14 students attended KTF, and this year, 21 students participated, led by student director Sikorski. Sikorski’s extensive theatrical experience, including her superior rating at last and this year’s Thespys and participation in the Governor’s School and KTF, has been instrumental in the troupe’s success.
Carolyn Greer, president of the Kentucky Thespian Society, praised the troupe’s achievement: “KTF has not seen many student directors, and winning with a student director is very rare!”
The emotional impact of the win was felt deeply by the students and their supporters.
“When we had won, it’s like the whole world went quiet and it was only us," said Amia Vela, a Fort Knox Middle High School sophomore. “I cried before they even finished saying Fort Knox … we accomplished what we had been working so long and so hard for—it was unreal.”
Chaperone and parent Kyla Sikorski shared her pride, too. “It has been amazing watching these students grow in the drama program this past year, and I’m so incredibly proud of them–when they were announced as winners, I literally burst into tears!”
Following the announcement, Greer addressed the students on stage, encouraging them for the upcoming International Thespian Festival in June 2025.
“You will grow so much at this (international) festival and you will have such a great time–you will make Kentucky so proud,” said Greer. “Please know that we are so incredibly proud of all of you, and we look forward to seeing what Fort Knox does every year after this.”
The students of Fort Knox Middle High School Troupe 11673 are now planning fundraising efforts to raise about $25,000 required to attend the International Thespian Festival in Bloomington, Indiana. The weeklong festival offers workshops from theater professionals, performances from troupes across the country, and numerous opportunities to meet college representatives and experience campus life at Indiana University.
DoDEA operates as a field activity of the Office of the Secretary of Defense. It is responsible for planning, directing, coordinating, and managing pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade educational programs for the Department of Defense. DoDEA operates 160 accredited schools in 8 districts in 11 foreign countries, seven states, Guam, and Puerto Rico. DoDEA Americas operates 50 accredited schools across two districts, located on 16 military installations, including Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard bases in seven states, Puerto Rico, and Cuba. Committed to excellence in education, DoDEA fosters well-rounded, lifelong learners, equipping them to succeed in a dynamic world.
| Date Taken: | 12.13.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 12.16.2024 13:41 |
| Story ID: | 487595 |
| Location: | FORT KNOX, KENTUCKY, US |
| Web Views: | 66 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Fort Knox Middle High School wins state-wide theater competition, by Kenny Lewis, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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