Starlight's Vincent Legacy Scholarship

STARLIGHT NOW ACCEPTING SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS
The Vincent Legacy Scholarships give 6th, 7th and
8th graders the opportunity to receive
professional training in the performing arts



Starlight Theatre is now accepting applications
through April 8 for the Vincent Legacy
Scholarship for ethnically diverse youth in the
sixth, seventh and eighth grades who have a
passionate interest and strong ability in the
performing arts. Approximately two scholarships
will be awarded that will pay for up to $2,500 of
dance, voice or acting training for the selected
youth.

Starlight and local community leaders Greg and
Rebecca Reid created the Vincent Legacy
Scholarship Fund in 2006 and have since awarded 16
scholarships. The Reids have also organized a
generous $50,000 endowment fund for the
scholarship "to provide youth who show performing
arts promise the opportunity to further refine and
improve their skills through professional
instruction, but who otherwise might not be able
to secure additional training."

In addition to meeting ethnic and financial
criteria, students must show a passion for the
performing arts, maintain an academic achievement
level equal or greater than a "B" (3.0) grade
level, attend school regularly with no unexcused
absences, and demonstrate an interest in community
service.

The Vincent Legacy Scholarship is not solely
considered a financial award, said Amy Reinert,
Starlight Theatre Director of Education. The
winners of the scholarships join a group of
talented former winners as well as adult mentors
whose mission is to guide and encourage the
scholars as they advance in their performing arts
training while maturing into adulthood. Past
recipients continue to stay in touch and mentor
new recipients.

"They (past winners) have become leaders," Reinert
said. "These scholarships help the students see
themselves in a way they might not be able to see
prior to this process. Their training is helping
them to become singers, dancers and actors, but
combined with the mentoring they are receiving,
these students become more focused, more self-
reliant and clearly more confident. I've seen this
attitude also spread amongst their families.

A great example of this confidence and mentoring
was apparent at last year's Vincent Legacy
Scholarship holiday celebration, she said, when a
former recipient who now danced with the
University of Kansas Dance Squad, eloquently told
the group, "People expect us to fail. Don't live
up to that expectation."

Applications for the Vincent Legacy Scholarship
and a list of past recipients are available at
www.kcstarlight.com, by email at
education@kcstarlight.com or by calling (816) 997-
1134.

Starlight Theatre, located at 4600 Starlight Road
in Swope Park, is the largest and oldest
performing arts organization in Kansas City and
the second largest theatre of its kind in the
United States. The not-for-profit organization is
dedicated to producing, presenting and promoting
excellence in musical theatre and the performing
arts for diverse audiences of all ages, with
continued programming for families and children.
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