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, 2025 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 SS Program Calendar for all important dates and deadlines!
3. Participate in Shooting Stars Orientation
- The Visual Arts Orientation provides the Two-Dimensional Art, Three-Dimensional Art, and Photography categories with information about the Shooting Stars Scholarship Program and how to prepare their Portfolio Submissions 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 Arts Orientation will take place on:
- December 9, 2024 for 2D, 3D, Photography, and Literature categories
4. Submit Digital Three-Dimensional Art Portfolio
- Use online Three-Dimensional Art Portfolio Submission Form for more information and to upload 3D Artwork Information & Digital Images.
- Review the 3D Visual Art Scholarship Guidelines, Scoring Rubric & Tips for Digital Portfolio Preparation before making final artwork selections and creating digital images for each artwork
- 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 Gala.
- For more information on program scheduling, dress, parking, and more: please review the 2024 Gala FAQs.
- Important: all Finalists need to plan attending the event; 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
- 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