The Finalist Program Packet contains all the information nominated students (Finalists), parents and nominating teachers need to know about being nominated for and participating in the Shooting Stars Recognition, Scholarship and Awards Program.
If you have questions about the Finalist Program Packet please contact us.
Finalist Eligibility, Nomination/Application and Participation
1. Eligibility and Nomination & Application Process for the Shooting Stars (SS) Program
High School arts faculty member nominates a student as a Finalist for one of the following arts categories by submitting online Nomination Form by November 8, 2024 at 11:59pm CST:
- Literature
- Strings
- Voice Classical
- Winds & Percussion
- Photography
- Production & Design (theatre tech)
- Two-Dimensional Art
- Three-Dimensional Art
- Theatre Performance (including voice)
- Each High School may nominate only one student for each arts category (total of 9 nominations per school)
- Student must be a graduating, senior high school (12th grade) student
- Student must reside in Johnson County, Kansas
- Once nominated, the student will automatically receive a “Nomination Notification Email” with a link to the Student Finalist Application Form
- Nominated student must submit online Application Form by November 18, 2024 at 11:59pm CST
- No late or incomplete forms will be accepted
- Forms are only accessible via links provided by the Arts Council of Johnson County (ACJC)
- Nominated student becomes an “SS Finalist” once the student’s Application is approved
- To remain eligible throughout the course of the Shooting Stars Program, Finalist (nominated student) must comply with all Scholarship Guidelines and Participation Requirements in a timely and complete manner
- Breakdown of Awards:
- First Place Category Scholarship (1 Award per Category) = $1,400
- Second Place Category Scholarship (1 Award per Category) = $700
- Nominating Teacher of all nine 1st Place Scholarship Recipients receives $300
2. 2025 Shooting Stars Program Calendar for all important dates and deadlines!
3. Participate in Shooting Stars Orientation
- The Performing & Literary Arts Orientation provides the Literature, Production & Design, Winds & Percussion, Theatre Performance, Voice Classical, and Strings categories with information about the Shooting Stars Scholarship Program and how to prepare Portfolio Submissions or for an Audition to comply with the Shooting Stars Scholarship Guidelines. Students will break into small groups by arts category to hear from past Shooting Stars judges about how to prepare a successful audition or portfolio. Nominated Teachers and Parents are invited to attend with their Finalist.
- Finalist’s RSVP is part of the Application Form
- Teachers and Parents use online RSVP Form to RSVP
- The Visual & Literary Arts Orientation will take place on:
- December 9th 2024 for 2D, 3D, Photography, & Literature categories
4. Submit Literature Portfolio
- Use the online Literature Portfolio Submission Form to provide information, Attendance Confirmation, Portfolio Consideration for elementia Publication, and to upload Literature documents and optional audio recordings.
- Review the Literature Guidelines, Scoring Rubric, and Tips for Document Portfolio Preparation before making final prose/poetry selections for Portfolio.
- Optional Audio Submission in online Portfolio Submission: Review Literature Scholarship Guidelines to learn more
- Two (2) independent arts professionals from the Kansas City metropolitan region will serve as Judges and make scholarship decisions for each arts category
- Elementia Publication: (part of Portfolio Submission Form)
- Elementia showcases the artistic & poetic talents of local teens and is published annually by the Johnson County Library.
- If Finalist chooses to have their artworks considered for elementia, ACJC will share their Portfolio with the Library. All shared Portfolios will be reviewed by a Johnson County Library curatorial committee to decide which artworks to include in this year’s elementia publication.
- Finalist’s submitted work may or may not be chosen for publication. The Johnson County Library will directly notify Finalists whose artwork is chosen.
5. Participate in the Shooting Stars Gala on April 6th, 2025
- Finalists will receive a free registration ticket plus four extra tickets for the 2025 Shooting Stars Gala.
- For more information on program scheduling and more: please review the 2024 Gala FAQs.
- Important: all Finalists need to plan on being at the Gala; no notification or announcement of scholarship recipients will be made prior to the Gala
6. Scholarships and Awards
- Announced at the Shooting Stars Gala
- Scholarships are merit-based and funded through private and public donations
- Judging Criteria: Finalist’s Scoring Rubric, Résumé and compliance with Participation Requirements and Scholarship Guidelines
- The Arts Council of Johnson County reserves the right to:
- Withhold scholarships in a category with three or fewer Finalists or with Judges’ decision that Finalist(s) did not meet the judging criteria
- Maintain Judges’ decisions are final
- Scholarship Payment
- Recipients must notify the Arts Council by September 20, 2025, of intent to use or defer use of scholarship funds for the 2024 fall semester or scholarship will be forfeited
- Scholarship funds may only be used for tuition costs, they cannot be used for food or room/board.
- To claim scholarship funds, Finalist must submit written request and required documentation to the Arts Council of Johnson County via email/mail:
Email: artsjoco@artsjoco.org
Mail:
Arts Council of Johnson County
8788 Metcalf, Suite 2500
Overland Park, KS 66212