Shooting Stars · 2009

Sponsored by the Arts Council of Johnson County

Celebrating 13 years of recognizing artistic achievement and awarding scholarships to outstanding graduating high school seniors who are residents of Johnson County, Kansas.

The Shooting Stars Recognition and Scholarship Program was initiated in 1996 as the inspiration of Robert Endres, who was then a member of the Board for the Arts and Humanities Association  of Johnson County and is still actively involved with the program.  Now in its thirteenth year, the program has continued to grow through the generosity of community contributors, including Johnson County Community College, members of the Arts Ambassadors, as well as through the dedicated work of the staff and volunteers of the Arts Council of Johnson County.   Since 1996, over 630 high school seniors, who are Johnson County residents, have been honored for excellence in both the performing and visual arts.  

Students honored through the Shooting Stars Program have been nominated by high school faculty members of the Blue Valley, DeSoto, Gardner-Edgerton, Olathe, Shawnee Mission and Spring Hill school districts, as well as Barstow, St. Thomas Aquinas High School, The Pembroke Hill School and Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy.

Through the generous support of individuals, businesses and foundations, the Arts Council of Johnson County annually awards $27,000 in college scholarships.  All nominated finalists are eligible to compete for the scholarships. Over the past twelve years, the program has awarded nearly $200,000 in scholarships.

College scholarships are awarded based on criteria established by the Selection and Criteria Committee for Shooting Stars. Utilizing this criteria, independent judges make final decisions regarding scholarship winners through live auditions, portfolio presentations or images of art works.  Scholarship funds are awarded directly to the colleges selected by the recipients. 

With the support of the new Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art, works by the visual arts finalists will be exhibited annually in the Nerman Museum.  Bruce Hartman, Director, Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art, along with Kent Smith, Museum Coordinator, selected one work from each of the finalists for exhibition in the McCaffree Gallery.    

Scholarship Categories

Photography
Three-Dimensional Art
Two-Dimensional Art
Theatre/Performance
Theatre/Technical
Voice
Winds and Percussion
Strings
Literature 

The Arts Council of Johnson County enhances the quality of life in the community by strengthening the arts.

Arts Council of Johnson County  •  Board of Directors

Kenneth R. Rashid - President
Bradley D. Douglas - Vice-President of Development
Katie Van Luchene - Vice-President of Marketing
David Oliver - Vice-President of Operations & Finance
Sandy Kelly - Treasurer
Michael Meadors - Secretary
Larry Meeker - Past-President/Ex-Officio
Tim Butt
Douglas Drake
Megan England
Bruce Hartman
Augie Huber
Robert Rohlf
Susan Shen
Blake Schreck
Joe Waters