Churchill student selected as Young Arts Finalist

Churchill High School senior Dallas Akins was selected as a Young Arts finalist in this year's National Theatre Scholarship competition.

More than 7,000 students applied and competed in the Young Arts Presidential Scholar competition, sponsored by the National Foundation for the Advancement of the Arts. Only 148 students from the 7,000 were selected from various arts auditions categories.

Akins said his goal was "to work his hardest and give it his all." He was one of three students selected from Texas. Akins will leave for an all expense paid, intensive theatre workshop in Miami on January 7. In Miami, he will study for a week with industry professionals, voice coaches and university professors. Students at the workshop will showcase their talents and audition for a panel of judges. If selected from that group, he may perform at The Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. for President Obama.

"This is quite an honor for Akins and the Churchill Theatre department," said Clark Stevens, Churchill Fine Arts department chair.

Posted on December 5, 2011