2023 Shooting Stars Digital Gala Program

Shooting Stars Gala 2023

2023 Shooting Stars Gala

April 2, 2023

WELCOME

SHOOTING STARS & THE COMMUNITY

Emcee Lonita Cook

RECOGNITION OF FINALISTS & PRESENTATION OF 2023 SHOOTING STARS SCHOLARSHIPS CLOSING

The Arts Council of Johnson County’s vision is to be recognized for its effectiveness in promoting the cultural and economic development of Johnson County through the arts. Our mission is to enhance the quality of life for Johnson County by strengthening the arts. ACJC’s work is guided by our mission and core values: community, creativity, quality of life and stewardship.

• Our programs, convenings and advocacy have a responsibility to contribute to a more diverse, connected, and inclusive community.

• The power of creativity inspires, innovates, and opens us to new perspectives of how we view ourselves, share ideas, and solve problems.

• The arts are essential to the health and well-being of our community, strengthen our economy, and ensure an equitable quality of life.

• Inclusive and collaborative stewardship nurtures and grows our creative industries for future generations.

More than an advocate for the arts, the Arts Council of Johnson County believes that our community is built on creativity, and that the arts are integral to who we are as individuals and as communities. We exist to bring attention and resources to the vibrant, creative culture of our region, to create and sustain a thriving, connected community. We believe Johnson County is home to some of our greatest artists, and that bringing them together can revitalize and transform all of us.

Serving the residents of Johnson County, Kansas, which is home to 20 municipalities and a little over 600,000 residents, the Arts Council of Johnson County (ACJC) enhances the quality of life in the community by strengthening the arts. Established in 1992 as the Arts and Humanities Association of Johnson County, the organization became the Arts Council of Johnson County in 2003 with the development of a strategic plan known as the Suburban Arts Business Plan.

Our programs include the Shooting Stars Recognition, Scholarship and Awards Program; Veterans Arts Programs; the Public Art Digital Catalog, and smART Blog in addition to our arts advocacy work. In 2019, the Arts Council of Johnson County adopted our new 3 year strategic plan. The plan focuses on how ACJC can best serve our community and advocate for the arts.

For more information about the arts in our community and The Arts Council of Johnson County visit our website at www.artsjoco.org.

Shooting Stars Recognition, Scholarship and Awards

The arts are an essential part of every student’s educational experience. Whether singing, sculpting, writing, or painting the arts teach critical thinking, communication, and collaboration - they are the spark of innovation and an important element of each student’s professional success and personal fulfillment.

Created by Robert G. Endres in 1997 and annually presented by The Arts Council of Johnson County, the Shooting Stars Program is one of a few programs in the community that honors high school students and their arts educators for artistic excellence in Literature, Performing and Visual Arts through recognition, scholarships and awards. Nominated by their high school arts teachers, Finalists audition or submit a portfolio of work for review by independent judges. All participating teachers and students are honored and scholarship recipients announced at the Annual Shooting Stars Gala this evening.

Since 1997, the Shooting Stars Program has recognized over 1000 high school seniors and awarded over $400,000 in college scholarships and $70,000 in teacher honorariums. Recent scholarship recipients have been accepted to schools such as CollegeConservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati, Cornell, Johnson County Community College, Kansas City Art Institute, University of Kansas, University of Missouri Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Dance, New York University and the London School of Design.

Criteria & Guidelines for Finalist Nomination

1. Only High School Art Faculty in private and public school systems who have graduating senior high school students who reside in Johnson County, KS, may nominate finalists.

2. No high school may nominate more than one finalist per category.

3. The nominated student must be a senior in high school and may compete in only one category.

4. The nominated student must plan to enroll in an accredited college, university or certified arts school.

5. The participation of a senior high school student in extracurricular and community activities or volunteerism, especially if it relates to his/her artistic talent, will be considered in choosing scholarship recipients.

PERFORMING ARTS CATEGORIES

Emcee: Lonita Cook

Lonita is a film, TV, theater + culture critic contributing to KCTV5, Everyday Northwest (Portland), Hello Iowa!, KS Women’s Lifestyle Magazine, New Thinking (UK) and blackbeebuzz.com. She is a member of Critics Choice Association, Alliance of Women Film Journalists and board member at Kansas City Film Critics Circle. She supports the regional development of film and other arts as a Grow Kansas Film and ArtsKC committee member as well as Kansas Department of Commerce Creative Arts Industries Commission Field Rep.

Lonita Cook

Finalists: 2D Art

Jade Achen

Shawnee Mission East HS

Sydney Barge Mill Valley HS

Rose Bennett Shawnee Mission North HS

Ahna Chang

The Barstow School

Lettie Featherston Shawnee Mission South HS

Didi Fu Olathe East HS

Finalists: 2D Art

Max Leiker Saint Thomas Aquinas HS

Patty Morales Blue Valley North HS

Mich Morasch Blue Valley HS

Finalists: 2D Art

Madison Orth Gardner Edgerton HS

Karissa Rangel Olathe North HS

Ashley Rottinghaus Olathe South HS

Julie Steeb De Soto HS

Lily Steinbrink Blue Valley Northwest HS

Finalists: 3D Art

Mira Becker Blue Valley West HS

Graelen Carter Shawnee Mission South HS

Ruby Dickie Spring Hill HS

Alejandra Loya Mill Valley HS

Alyssa Merry Blue Valley HS

Molly Ramsey Blue Valley North HS

Finalists: 3D Art

Audrey Roberts Blue Valley Northwest HS

Aubrey Sanchez Olathe Northwest HS

Lola Sidie Shawnee Mission East HS

Lana Skaggs

Shawnee Mission West HS

Leah Tarwater Saint Thomas Aquinas HS

Hadley Tuel Blue Valley Southwest HS

Finalists: Literature

Quindale Adams

Olathe East HS

Supriya Bolla Blue Valley North HS

Sydney Bonnstetter De Soto HS

Jacqueline Kallas St. Teresa’s Academy

Catheryn Poe Blue Valley West HS

Finalists: Literature

Abby Rasmussen

Shawnee Mission South HS

Caroline Stickney Olathe North HS

Abigail Swanson Shawnee Mission East HS

Tess Vanberg Blue Valley HS

Wyatt Vaughn

Olathe South HS

Finalists: Photography

Comfort Adegoke Shawnee Mission Northwest HS

Clara Burke Blue Valley West HS

Leah Candelario Blue Valley North HS

John Costello Olathe East HS

Alex Dean Blue Valley HS

Audrey Morehead Shawnee Mission East HS

Finalists: Photography

Alyssa Ratcliffe

Gardner Edgerton HS

Ava Recker Blue Valley Southwest HS

Regan Rieder Maranatha Academy

Julia Schnittker

Shawnee Mission South HS

Sophia Volovoy Blue Valley Northwest HS

Finalists: Production & Design

Katie Bauman

Olathe North HS

Kurt Freeman

Shawnee Mission East HS

Emily Heflin

Olathe West HS

Sophia Krauskopf

Gardner Edgerton HS

Finalists: Production & Design

Claire McLewin Olathe Northwest HS

Savannah Miner Shawnee Mission Northwest HS

Hannah Willard Olathe East HS

Finalists: Strings

Andrea Allen

Olathe North HS

Aidan Cobos Blue Valley HS

Lisa Ji Blue Valley West HS

Alana Schmalzried-Lugo

Olathe Northwest HS

Kayoko Thornton Blue Valley North HS

Finalists: Theatre Performace

Layla Abu Saada

Olathe East HS

Jay Allen Olathe South HS

Lillie Barr Blue Valley West HS

Lee Barth De Soto HS

Ella Bentley Olathe North HS

Finalists: Theatre Performace

Olivia Cupp-Korb

Olathe West HS

Claire Deardorff Shawnee Mission West HS

Grace Fields Shawnee Mission East HS

Carter Harvey Mill Valley HS

Sage Hawkins Shawnee Mission North HS

Finalists: Theatre Performace

Naida Kosek

Shawnee Mission South HS

Brett Oplotnik

Blue Valley Northwest HS

Emma-Kate Salin

Blue Valley Southwest HS

Cannon Simpson Blue Valley HS

Piper Warren

Gardner Edgerton HS

Finalists: Voice Classical

Janiel Balino

Saint Thomas Aquinas HS

Maddie Blackman Olathe West HS

Claire Doherty Blue Valley Northwest HS

Brynn Friesen Blue Valley HS

Eva Girard Blue Valley North HS

Finalists: Voice Classical

Brayden Heath Mill Valley HS

Elaine Jensen Gardner Edgerton HS

Ellen Kryer Blue Valley West HS

Kaitlyn Lingle

Maranatha Academy

Kate Meives

Olathe East HS

Finalists: Voice Classical

Emily Mlodzik De Soto HS

Sydney Muder Olathe South HS

Samantha Wallenburg

Shawnee Mission West HS

Jack Wilson Olathe North HS

Finalists: Winds and Percussion

Alex Brady

Saint James Academy

Liam Courson Olathe East HS

Sienna DelBorrell Mill Valley HS

Josh Doregemeier Gardner Edgerton HS

Quinlan Hall

Shawnee Mission West HS

Finalists: Winds and Percussion

Nithya Kailad

Olathe North HS

Trey Krizek

Blue Valley West HS

Jack McNiel

Blue Valley Southwest HS

Oliver Zhang

Blue Valley North HS

Judges: 2D Art

Lisa J. Maione (she/her/they/them) is a designer, educator and creative consultant based in Kansas City, Missouri. Lisa holds an MFA and BFA in Graphic Design from Rhode Island School of Design and a post-graduate certificate in Typeface Design from Type@Cooper NYC. She is concurrently an Assistant Professor of Graphic Design at Kansas City Art Institute and runs a design practice called For Instance. For Instance works on collaborative projects in the arts, architecture, publishing and education. I partner with clients to design and build spaces, systems and interactions to engage the audiences we care about at multiple scales of communication. We work on editorial projects, proposals and speculations that support local business, media, arts and culture. Previous clients include Charlotte Street Foundation, genEquality, Goethe Pop-Up KC, Metropolis magazine, ArchiteXX, CVS Health, Billboard, Rookiemag, Oklahoma State University Museum of Art, and Parsons School of Design.

Jennifer Short has been active in teaching and instructing fine art to a diverse range of learners. Ms. Short has been on staff at Nelson- Atkins Museum of Art in their education department teaching studio workshops and connecting with community organizations through the museum’s outreach programs. Additionally, Ms. Short has taught in a variety of traditional K-12 art classrooms, as well. She is currently teaching in the Center School District. She is passionate about her learners and tries to instill the values of how a fine art education can enrich a person’s life. Ms. Short holds degrees from William Jewell College and UMKC in Fine Art and Art Education. She has had the distinguished pleasure of being a juror of the National Congressional Art Competition and Prairie Village Art Shows, as well as being recognized by the National Park Service as an art educator liaison for helping students create ornaments for the President’s Christmas Tree in 2012.

Lisa J. Maione

Jennifer Short

Judges: 3D Art

Samuel Davis is a ceramic and mixed media artist from Knoxville, Tennessee. He earned his BFA in Visual Arts from the University of Tennessee in 2006 and his MFA in Visual Arts from Clemson University in 2009. In 2008 he completed an Artist’s Residency at Tainan National University of the Applied Arts in Tainan, Taiwan. He also studied abroad in Japan, learning from and working with various artists and craftsmen in Kyoto and Mashiko. He currently teaches as an Adjunct Professor at Johnson County Community College.

Kevin Demery is an interdisciplinary artist from the San Francisco Bay Area. He holds a BFA from California College of the Arts and an MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Demery received the Municipal Art League Grant from SAIC and participated in the Artist in Residence programs at Kala Art Institute in Berkeley, CA, The Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts in Omaha, NE, and Acre Residency in Steuben, WI, among others. He has exhibited work both nationally and internationally at the University of Chicago’s Arts Incubator, H&R Block Space at the Kansas City Art Institute, and the Art Berlin fair in Berlin, Germany. He most recently had a solo exhibition at SakhileandMe gallery in Frankfurt, Germany in 2022. He is currently a Visiting Assistant professor and AICAD fellow at the Kansas City Art Institute and an Artist in Residence at the Charlotte Street Foundation in Kansas City, Missouri.

Samuel Davis

Kevin Demery

Judges: Literature

Jose Faus is a visual artist, performer, writer, independent teacher/mentor with an interest in the role of artists as creative catalysts for community building. He is a founder of the Latino Writers Collective and sits on the boards of The Latino Writers Collective, The Full Frame Initiative, UMKC Alumni Assn, and Charlotte Street Foundation. His chapbook This Town Like That was released by Spartan Press. His book of poetry The Life and Times of Jose Calderon was published by West 39 Press. He maintains caridostudio in downtown Kansas City, KS.

After retiring from a long career in daily journalism, Steve Paul has turned his writing practice toward literary biography. His recents books include Hemingway at Eighteen and Literary Alchemist: The Writing Life of Evan S. Connell. The latter is the first biography of this overlooked and intriguing Kansas City-born writer and won the Society of Midland Authors’ Brommel Award for best biography in 2022. He is currently at work on a biography of the Kansas-born poet William Stafford (1914-1993). He writes regular cultural columns for KC Studio magazine and serves on the board of the Biographers International Org.

Jose Faus

Steve Paul

Judges: Photography

Andrew Mcilvaine is a Mexican American interdisciplinary artist. Born in San Antonio, Texas, and later moved to Missouri, Mcilvaine creates work about displacement and replacement and how these issues effect both cultural and personal memory, identity, and a sense of self. Mcilvaine earned his BA in studio art from the University of Missouri – Kansas City. After receiving his BA, Mcilvaine moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where he attained his MFA from Washington University in St. Louis in painting and drawing. Currently, Mcilvaine lives and works in Kansas City and holds a visiting lecturer position in the foundation program at KCAI.

Jason Piggie is an Afro American photographer, filmmaker, writer, curator, and director. Piggie got his start in a high school photography class.Piggie continued his study in photography though out high school and into college years, where he received his BA in Comminution. Piggie creates thought provoking work by capturing images of everyday life, things, and people. He prefers his expression to be without enhanced manipulation. Piggie’s photography has been exhibited in numerus regional group and solo exhibitions. Piggie photography has exhibited at Spiva Center for the Arts, American Jazz Museum, Kansas City Museum, Johnson County Museum, and the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Piggie received the first-place award at the 3/5/7 Film Festival in the 5-minute category in 2009. In 2012, Piggie won best in show at an Arts KC show. Piggie has received grants and has been awards local residencies, Piggie is a Founding member of the African American Artist Collective in Kansas City.

Andrew Mcilvaine

Jason Piggie

Judges: Production & Design

Gary Mosby has been making his living in technical theatre for 32 years now. Gary is primarily a scenic designer and technical director/ builder. He has worked for most of the theaters’ in Kansas City, MO. including American Heartland Theatre, Coterie Theatre, The Unicorn Theatre; where he currently serves as resident designer. Gary was the owner of a professional scenic studio, Design Production Services for ten years serving primarily live theatre and some industrials and display work, including the space and water areas of Kaleidoscope at Hallmark. Gary Is part of the Full-Time faculty at Kansas City Kansas Community college where he heads the theatre technology area, designs scenery and lighting for all of the department productions. He also serves as the technical director for the department of theatre and the Performing Arts Center itself. Gary holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Tarkio College and a Master of Fine Arts from University of Missouri, Kansas City, both in Theatre Design and Technology.

Em Swenson has been working in Kansas City theatre as a professional designer for over a decade. She has designed props, lighting, scenic, and projection designs. She recently received her Master’s in Public Administration with an emphasis in Non-profit Management from UMKC. Em works as the Director of Development at Unicorn Theatre, where she continues to design cutting edge theatre.

Gary Mosby

Em Swanson

Destiny Mermagen

Judges: Strings

Destiny Ann Mermagen is the first-ever artist alongside pianist Heather Adelsberger to record the complete works of Henri Vieuxtemps’ Bouquet Américain—A collection of charming, witty, and virtuosic pieces based on popular American and Irish folk tunes that are written in the typical “Classical Music” style, while at the same time giving a nod to the “American Fiddling” tradition. These works are featured on her 2018 world premiere album, Classical Cowgirl ~ Bach to Barn Burners™. As the winner of international competitions and performance awards, Destiny Ann has appeared as violin soloist and chamber musician in many prestigious venues across the United States, in Russia, Prague, and elsewhere in Europe. More information can be found on her website, www.destinyviolin.com.

Michael Mermagen is Professor of Cello at UMKC Conservatory and Head of Strings. He was formerly Associate Professor of Cello and Chamber Music and Head of the Instrumental Division at the Benjamin T. Rome School of Music at The Catholic University of America. Michael has toured and given recitals, concerto performances, master classes and chamber music performances around the world. Michael performed live with Richard Westenberg’s ensemble Musica Sacra on A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor and performed as a substitute cellist in the New York Philharmonic, Buffalo Philharmonic, New York City Ballet, Orchestra of Saint Lukes, 92nd Street Y Orchestra, Philharmonia Virtuosi of New York, American Symphony Orchestra, Brooklyn Philharmonic, and the Long Island Philharmonic. He performs on a Nicolo Gagliano cello, Naples, 1774.

Michael Mermagen

Judges: Theatre Performance

Erik Meixelsperger is a professional actor, writer, and teacher in the Kansas City area. Erik completed his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting at the University of Minnesota Duluth, where he was a two-time Irene Ryan regional finalist in the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF), as well as a national finalist in the Gary Garrison Ten-Minute Play competition. Erik later received his Master of Fine Arts in Acting at the Florida State University/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training. During his time at FSU, he became a company member of the celebrated Asolo Repertory Theatre, where he trained and collaborated with various theatre professionals. Erik’s acting work in Florida comprises numerous productions, including the Asolo Repertory’s touring productions of The Tempest, Oedipus Rex, The Rehearsal, Much Ado About Nothing, and The Crucible, to name a few. Additionally, he spent a summer abroad in London training with renowned vocal coach Patsy Rodenburg. Most recently, Erik was seen as Paris in Heart Of America Shakespeare’s production of Romeo & Juliet.

Matt Schwader Harbor, MFA has been a professional actor since 1998. Notable stages include the Goodman, Chicago Shakespeare, Indiana Rep, Actors Theatre of Louisville, ACT Theatre in Seattle, American Players Theatre, the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Old Globe and more. Currently he performs and directs with Kansas City Actors Theatre (KCAT), where he is a core company member. You can hear him in KCAT’s radio plays on the Kansas City Actors Theatre Podcast. Matt has an MFA from the University of Delaware’s Professional Theatre Training Program and is a member of SAG/AFTRA and Actors Equity Association. He is the Director of Performance Studies at Avila University in Kansas City, MO, where he teaches acting.

Erik Meixelsperger

Matt Schwader Harbor

Judges: Voice Classical

Daniel Doss has established himself as a Music Director, Conductor, Composer and Collaborative Pianist in over 90 musical theater productions across the globe since 2002, including the National Tours of THE COLOR PURPLE, THE ADDAMS FAMILY and RAGTIME and has served as Music Director for the New Theatre & Restaurant in Overland Park, Kansas since 2015. Daniel’s composition credits include TRUMAN & PENDERGAST: The Musical; NELLY DON: The Musical, which has also been made into a feature film premiering in late 2023; WILD AND WILLFUL WOMEN, which was selected as one of three original musicals for the 2014 TRU Musical Reading Series in New York City; RED DEATH, an original one act opera based on the short story by Edgar Allen Poe which was awarded the ‘Best of Kansas City Fringe Festival 2014’; and multiple choral works including WHEN I KNEW, commissioned by the Heartland Men’s Chorus which premiered at GALA Choruses Festival 2012 in Denver.

Dr. Neal Long enjoys a diverse career as a singer, pianist, and arts administrator. Neal has performed leading tenor roles in opera and especially finds joy in championing contemporary vocal works. In his role as Director of Learning at Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Neal oversees the company’s programs of education and community engagement– all crafted with the goal of promoting societal artistic literacy in Kansas City. A recent highlight of his work includes the development of Opera Unlocked, a sequential and comprehensive in-school education initiative serving area schools.

Daniel Doss

Dr. Neal Long

Judges: Winds & Percussion

Joseph A Straws III, born and raised in Wyandotte County, graduate of Sumner Academy of Arts and Science, and KCKCC with a degree in Audio Engineering, Joseph had been teaching and educating students for over 20 years in the inner city core, at the high school and middle school level. Owner of 2 the MAAXE Audio Video Solutions, he provides services that include music production, recording, vocal training, and performance coaching. He himself is an accomplished and published percussionist that has played Jazz Drums across the country for the past 25 plus years. His passions are the youth and the advancement of the arts back into the fabric of the inner city lives of kids, through dance, music, tech and more.

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 England Conservatory of Music and completed a fellowship with the New World Symphony. In the Fall of 2021, Ebonee joined the faculty of the University of Missouri Kansas City Conservatory as Assistant Professor of Flute.

Joseph A Straws III

Ebonee Thomas

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Taylor Roy (’22 Painting)

2023 Shooting Stars Nominating Teachers

Amy Anderson, Shawnee Mission East HS

Kelli Baker, Gardner Edgerton HS

Ben Bartlett, Shawnee Mission North HS

Will Biggs, Gardner Edgerton HS

Kathleen Bock, Olathe North HS

Andrew Book, Blue Valley West HS

Catherine Boone, Saint Thomas Aquinas HS

Toni Britt, Gardner Edgerton HS

Brian Capello, Shawnee Mission East HS

Jon Copeland, Mill Valley HS

Sarah Cronkleton-Kidd, De Soto HS

Derek Cross, Shawnee Mission West HS

Stephanie Dalley, Shawnee Mission North HS

Maureen Davis, Blue Valley HS

Cherie Dean, Maranatha Academy

Tom Defeo, Shawnee Mission East HS

Samuel Dollins, Blue Valley HS

Cortney Dougherty, Shawnee Mission South HS

Rachel Elyachar, Blue Valley North HS

Amy Fear, Blue Valley HS

Adam Finkelston, Shawnee Mission East HS

Daniel Freeman, Blue Valley North HS

Mindy Fry, De Soto HS

Zachary Gall, Blue Valley West HS

Taryn Gervais, Blue Valley Southwest HS

Gary Goddard, Olathe East HS

Steve Gordon, Maranatha Academy

Carly Graceffa, Blue Valley Southwest HS

Jason Hagg, Gardner Edgerton HS

Travis Hale, Blue Valley North HS

Helen Harrelson, Saint James Academy

Amy Hastings, Olathe Northwest HS

David Hastings, Olathe South HS

Emily Hensley, Blue Valley North HS

Jennifer Hensley, Shawnee Mission East HS

Lisa Hirsch, Olathe Northwest HS

Thomas Holland, Blue Valley North HS

Shawnasea Holst, Shawnee Mission Northwest HS

Micah Horton, Olathe North HS

Anna Johnson, Saint Thomas Aquinas HS

Michael Johnston, Blue Valley HS

Chelsie Kane, Saint Thomas Aquinas HS

Carly Kimbrough, Blue Valley Northwest HS

Laura Klaassen, Olathe East HS

Sydney Kohart, Blue Valley Northwest HS

Jaclyn Krulik, Blue Valley North HS

Amanda Lea, The Barstow School

Brandon Lesando, Blue Valley Southwest HS

Justin Love, Blue Valley West HS

Lori Ludwig, Olathe East HS

Josh Maddux, Olathe North HS

Cecily Mahan, Olathe North HS

Joel Martin, Olathe Northwest HS

Erica Matyak, Mill Valley HS

Lindsey McFall, Shawnee Mission South HS

Sarah McKee, Blue Valley Southwest HS

Ryan Meara, De Soto HS

Roger Messersmith, Olathe South HS

Tim Mispagel, De Soto HS

Kimberly Modelski, Blue Valley West HS

Ashley Moll, Blue Valley West HS

Alisha Morris, Olathe West HS

Mark Mosier, Blue Valley HS

Rachel Mulvihill, Olathe East HS

Emily Patterson, Blue Valley Southwest HS

Dustin Pence, Olathe North HS

Elise Peterson, Olathe South HS

Brian Pollack, Blue Valley Northwest HS

Aimee Price, Blue Valley West HS

Jessica Reimer, Mill Valley HS

Brad Reinking, Spring Hill HS

Mark Rice, Shawnee Mission HS

Beth Richey-Sullivan, Blue Valley Northwest HS

Cynthia Roth, Olathe Northwest HS

Kimberly Ruttan, Shawnee Mission Northwest HS

Elijah Schraad, Shawnee Mission West HS

Mary Schulte, Gardner Edgerton HS

Melissa Sellers, Olathe East HS

Eddie Shafer, Olathe East HS

Jeff Smikahl, Olathe East HS

Deb Steiner, Mill Valley HS

Mark Swezey, Shawnee Mission South HS

Sarah Taber, St. Teresa’s Academy

Melissa Terryberry, Shawnee Mission South HS

Bill Thomas, Shawnee Mission West HS

Nicholas Tomasic, Blue Valley West HS

Reed Uthe, Blue Valley West HS

Laura VanLeeuwen, Olathe West HS

Jeff Yarnell, Blue Valley HS

Deidre Zongker, Olathe North HS

Board of County Commissioners:

Chairman Mike Kelly

1st District Commissioner Becky Fast

2nd District Commissioner Jeff Meyers

3rd District Commissioner Charlotte O’Hara

4th District Commissioner Janeé Hanzlick

5th District Commissioner Michael Ashcraft

6th District Commissioner Shirley Allenbrand

ACJC Governing Board:

Jennifer Wampler, President

Matthew Walter, Vice President

Joe Waters, Treasurer

Kate Allen

Iveth Jalinsky

Jeff Serven

Jasmine Thompson

ACJC Advisory Board:

Hannes Zacharias, Chair Dr. Donna Davis

Dana Knapp

Ed Márquez

Shooting Stars Chairman Emeritus:

Robert G. Endres

Arts Ambassadors:

Gerald Baird

Lynne & Peter Brown

Terry Calaway

Linda & Chuck Carlsen

Richard Carrothers & Dennis Hennessy

Eileen Cohen

Joni Cohen

Mark Gilman

Pam & Gary Gradinger

Shirley & Barnett Helzberg

Linda & Topper Johntz

David and Demi Kiersznowski

Diana & Len Kline

Kay Martin

Lee & Carl McCaffree

Pat & Beth McCown

Larry Meeker

Susan & Lewis Nerman

Marti & Tony Oppenheimer

Ann & Bob Regnier

Mary Tearney

ACJC Staff:

Sarah VanLanduyt-Executive Director

Allison Bowman-Administrative Assistant

Shooting Stars Volunteers:

Amy Bagnall

April Bishop

Evie Craig

Mary Eads

Allie Hennes

Ed Márquez

Jan McCreary

Ellen Merrill

Sara Prem

Robin Prosini

Sally Roberts

Vandra Solomon

Mary Tearney

Judy Tuckness

Kyle VanLanduyt

Marcianne Wagner-Heaton

Jennifer Wampler

Shooting Stars Judge’s Selection Committee:

Arzie Umali, Chair

Sidonie Garrett

Amy Kligman

Jim Lane

Mark Mattison

Kreshaun McKinney

Sonié Ruffin

Shooting Stars Prep Workshop Leaders:

Jim Lane

Ebonee Thomas

Raymond Feener

Michael Mermagen

Julia Welles

Darcy Deal

Gabriella Lemmons

Kate McNair

Community Arts Mapping Advisory Committee:

Melanie Arroyo

Allison Bowman

Ted Collins

Greg Dixon

Angi Hejduk

Jaimie James

Melanie Johnson

Stacie McDaniel

Linnaia McKenzie

Matthew Schulte

Bryan Voell

Matthew Walter

Arts & Economic Prosperity Study 6 Advisory Committee:

Lonita Cook

Debbie Froelich

Lorna Jarrett

Bonnie Limbird

Susan Mong

Brittany Noriega

JoAnne Northrup

Brittany Paddock

Suzanne Ryanstrati

Jasmine Thompson

Carlos Vides

Alexandria Washington

Diana Zwahlen

Thank YOU for your support!

Thank you to our Generous Supporters

Contributing to The Arts Council of Johnson County as of March 21, 2023

Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission

Henderson Engineers Charitable Foundation

Nerman Family Foundation

Francis Family Foundation

Muriel McBrien Kauffman Family Foundation

Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art

Midwest Trust Center at JCCC

UMKC Conservatory

Kansas City Art Institute

Veterans United Foundation

Prairie Village Arts Council

Friends of Overland Park Arts

Leawood Arts Council

Linda and Topper Johntz

Gary and Pam Gradinger

Diane Botwin

Jeff Serven

John and Ann Kenney

Nancy Kaiser Caplan

Wonsin Park

Chris and Bess Huff

Rita Oplotnik

William and Susan Tinker

Carol Chislett

Beth Sauer

Ron and Stephanie Olsen

Gerald and Martha Baird

Ron Stallbaumer and Sarah Baird

Karen Chinn

Jeffery and Deborah Huffman

Bryan and Jennifer Wampler

Brian Williams and Matthew Walter

Kathryn Heflin

Timothy and Karen Schneller

Barbara Warady

Bernie Lee Household

Randy and Caroline Braley

Emily Behrmann

Vandra Solomon

Jocelyn Bennet

Jamie Droegemeier

Lisa Ji

Ellen Merrill

Roger Messersmith

Tamisha Sewell

Jamie Wilson

John and Kathleen Kelley

Becky Silvermintz