McCracken County High School recognized the following Performing Arts and Visual Arts Seniors for their accomplishments and signing college scholarships.
Lilly Spann
Long Island University
Brookville, New York
Major: Theatre Arts with a concentration in Musical Theatre
Scholarships:
Presidential Scholarship, as well as two Talent Scholarships
Awards/Accomplishments:
Lilly is on track to graduate valedictorian with a 4.2 GPA, and has been named KHSAA Academic All- State for all 4 years. She was named a National Dance Alliance "All- American Dancer" in 2020 and 2022, as well as receiving the "Pin It Forward" award for kindness and encouragement at NDA dance camp this year. Lilly has been a member of the MCHS choral department all 4 years, and a section leader for Varsity Singers. She was the proud captain of the McCracken County Stangettes Dance Team this year, and has been a member for 4 all years. Lilly has also been trained and instructed by Wheeler and Megan Hughes at Mainstage School of Performing Arts and would not be where she is today without their influence and dedication to students in performing arts.
Gavin Smith
Norwalk Conservatory of the Arts
Norwalk, Connecticut
Major: Musical Theatre Dance Performance
Scholarships:
$15,000 talent scholarship from Norwalk
Awards/Accomplishments:
SETC Best Performer Award-Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
State Outstanding Performer Award-Miraculous Journey Of Edward Tulane
Regional All Star Cast-Miraculous Journey Of Edward Tulane
Attended GSA in the summer of 2021 for Drama
22-23 Drama Club Social Media Representative
22-23 Paducah Bank Teen Ambassador
A part of Mainstage Performing Arts Center and Theatre for the past 10 years
Been a part of MCHS Theatre and Choral Departments all 4 years of high school
Hannah Bryan
Dobbins Conservatory of Music & Dance at Southeast Missouri State University
Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Major: Bachelor of Fine Arts: Musical Theatre
Minor: Double Major in Theatre Design & Technology
Scholarships:
SEMO Copper Dome Scholarship, SEMO Redhawk Achievement Scholarship, Dobbins Residential Life Honors Scholarship, Dobbins Conservatory Performing Arts Scholarship
Awards/Accomplishments:
Hannah Bryan has been performing for 4 years with McCracken Theatre and 10 years at MainStage School of Performing Arts with roles in more than 30 productions. She attended Governor's School for the Arts in 2022 and was the recipient of the Luke Sink Award, an honor given to one member of the graduating class for their exemplary participation in the program. She is also a member of the Student Government Association, National Honors Society, FBLA, Beta Club, Drama Club, and is a graduate of Paducah Youth LEAD. She was a cast member of the State Champion production of The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane and was named to the All-Star Cast at the Southeastern Theatre Conference. As an 8-year member of the Academic Team and Future Problem Solving Team, she has earned district, region, state, and international titles while maintaining a 4.0 GPA in honors, AP, and dual enrollment courses. She will be attending the Dobbins Conservatory of Music & Dance at Southeast Missouri State University with a BFA double major in Musical Theatre and Theatre Design and Technology.
Addie Pope
Murray State University
Murray, KY
Major: Musical Theatre / Education
Scholarships:
Erin Marie Conn Memorial Scholarship [CONNEM], Mary Charles Harris Honorary Music Scholarship [HARMUS], Carr Scholarship [CARRSC] (Academic Achievement Scholarship), McCracken County Education Association Scholarship
Awards/Accomplishments:
Addie has been involved in Musical Theater since 2nd grade. She attended Mainstage School of Performing Arts where she was cast in 22 different productions. Addie began Voice lessons with Emily Black in 6th grade and has been a student of Mrs. Black for the past 6 years. She has been dedicated to the McCracken County Theater Department during her High School career where Addie has been cast in 8 productions at MCHS. She has been a member of McCracken County Choral Department and sang in the Varsity Singer and Advanced Women's chorus. Addie has studied Dance at McCracken County as well as Mainstage. Addie is a 2023 Honor Student. She was a Paducah Bank Ambassador, cast member of the State winning play Edward Tulane. She has been accepted to the Musical Theater Department at Murray State University where she plans to attend this fall.
Adyson Townsend
Murray State University
Murray, KY
Major: Musical Theatre
Minor: Arts Administration
Scholarships:
Full Governor’s School for the Arts Scholarship
Awards/Accomplishments:
Adyson started taking Drama classes her freshman year, and first took to the stage in her sophomore year, quickly and enthusiastically taking part in as many shows as possible. She is a GSA Drama alum, is currently serving as a Student Advisor on the board at Market House Theatre, and is our Drama Club President. With the Theatre Department, Adyson has traveled to perform at the State level with our plays the past two years- and with “Edward Tulane” she received All Star Cast at the Kentucky Theatre Association State Festival and also beyond at the SouthEastern Theatre Conference. Adyson just finished her time here at McCracken portraying Belle in our production of “Beauty and the Beast.” She will be attending Murray State University in the fall majoring in Musical Theatre with a minor in Arts Administration.
Gavin Baumer
University of Kentucky
Major: Music Education
Scholarships:
University Core School of Music, $20,000
Awards/Accomplishments:
Wind Ensemble 3 years
McBigBand 3 years
All District Band 2019
Quad State Band 2022-23
WKU Honor Band 2023
MMB Section Leader 2021-22 Season and 2022-23 Season
Carys Hackney
Murray State University
Major: Music; Wildlife and Conservation Studies
Scholarships:
$1000 Scholarship
Awards/Accomplishments:
NHS
Music City Drum Corps
TriM Music Honors Society
Riverview Independent Winds (WGI)
Simon Bozone
Western Kentucky University
Major: Music Education
Scholarships:
Music audition scholarship $8,000
Awards/Accomplishments:
High School Band for 4 years
The Farrah Ervin Spirit Award
Distinguished Solo Ratings
Quadstate Honor Band
Noah Tolar
Murray State University
Major: Music Business
Scholarships:
GSA Scholarship - Full Tuition
Campus Light Scholarship - $2,000 a year
Provost Music Housing Scholarship - $1,000 a year
Dr Charles L and Marlene Rann Johnson Music Scholarship -$500 a year
Awards/Accomplishments:
Class of 2022 GSA
3x KMEA All State Participant
4x FDKMEA All District Participant
2023 Quad State Soloist of the year
Maya Lee
Murray State University
Major: Music Education
Scholarships:
Murray State Department of Music Scholarship $2,000
Awards/Accomplishments:
Mustang Marching Band for 4 years earning the position of co-section leader in her junior and section leader in her senior year.
Awarded The Best Soloist Overall Award at the Appletime Festival Competition for Marching Band in 2022.
Quad State Band (4 years)
All District Honor Band (4 years)
Western Kentucky Honor Band (2 years)
Southeast Missouri State University Honor Band (1 year)
Distinguish Ratings for Solo & Ensemble performances (3 years)
Concert Band( 1 year)
Symphonic Band (1 year)
Wind ensemble (3 years)
Jazz Ensemble (2 years)
Paducah Community Band (4 years)
Representative of the Paducah Delegation of the Unesco Global Youth Orchestra that performed in South Korea in 2019.
Winter Johnson
Murray State University
Major: Instrumental Music Education
Scholarships:
Department of Music Scholarship: $1000
Regents Scholarship: $8000
Awards/Accomplishments:
Head Drum Major for Mustang Marching Band
1st Chair McCracken Wind Ensemble
2nd Chair All-District Symphonic Band
2nd Chair Quad-State Honor Band
WKU Honor Band
Indoor Percussion for 3 years
Mustang Marching Band for 4 years
Lynniah Vandry
Southeast Missouri State University
Major: Music Education
Scholarships:
Department of Music: Visual and Performing Arts Award - $2,000
Marching Band / Drum Line: All State Marching Band - $725
Awards/Accomplishments:
3 years in MMB
4 years McCracken Indoor Percussion (WGI bronze and gold medalists)
All-District Concert Band (11th grade - 1st chair, 12th grade - 2nd chair)
WKU Honor Band (1st chair oboe)
Gavin McKenzie
Murray State University
Major: History Education
Minor: Applied Music
Scholarships:
$1,000 Housing Scholarship
Awards/Accomplishments:
All District since 7th grade
Top All District Band junior and senior year
Received solo and ensemble distinct rating since 7th grade
WKU honor band 8th, 10th and 12th grade years
Quad State Band junior and senior year
1st Trumpet Player in the Top Concert Band at MCHS since sophomore year to senior year
Section Leader of the MMB trumpet section since the 2021 to 2022 seasons
One of the 1st Chair trumpet players of the Mcbig band
4.0 GPA Honors Student since freshman year
Alyssa Deneve
Murray State University
Major: Art/Graphic Design
Scholarships:
Carr Scholarship
Awards/Accomplishments:
Alysaa has been involved in the art program most of her high school career. She was part of the NAHS club. Alyssa won second place in video/film/animation with KYAEA.
Keaton Clark
Western Kentucky University
Major: Visual Arts Graphic Design
Minor: Film Production
Scholarships:
WKU Merit Scholarship $16,000
Awards/Accomplishments:
Graduating with honors, NAHS freshman year, currently in Media Club.
Caroline Menendez
Murray State University
Major: Visual Arts
Scholarships:
Provost Scholarship
Awards/Accomplishments:
Performed in orchestra for eight years; play violin, guitar, and bass guitar; completed 20 hours in National Art Honors Society; has had work shown in local galleries.
Jane Walsh
Savannah College of Art and Design
Major: Jewelry
Scholarships:
$12,000/ yr. academic scholarship, $1,500/yr. portfolio scholarship, $1500/yr. GSA scholarship
Awards/Accomplishments:
GSA 2022 Visual Arts Alumni, 2023 KYAEA All-State Art Show "Best in Show" Winner, 2022 "Teen Spirit" Yeiser Art Show 1st Place, Valedictorian class of 2023, Service as secretary, vice president, and president of National Arts Honors Society with over 60 completed service hours, Paducah Art Guilds first "Student of the Month"
Enoch Brindley
WKCTC
Major: Associates in Art Ceramics
Awards/Accomplishments:
NAHS
AP Art
Erin Farris
Union University
Jackson, Tennessee
Major: Vocal Music
Minor: Communication Arts
Scholarships:
Union University Scholarship $10,000 Union Grant $5,000 SBC scholarship $1,000 Union music Vocal Scholarship $3,000 Union music Ensemble Scholarship $4,000 MCEA scholarship $500
Awards/Accomplishments:
Four years of choir in high school (Crimson- Freshman Year, Advanced Women’s- Sophomore year, Varsity- junior and senior year); attended classes and has done 21 shows with MainStage School of Performing Arts for 10 years; stage manager for three MCHS shows including: Treasure Island, Freaky Friday, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane; cast member in Beauty and the Beast; Student Government all four years of high school; 2022-23 Vice President; member of National Honors Society; auditioned for and accepted into Union University’s music program; offered a $7,000 scholarship and invited to audition for an invite only ensemble.
Madison Newlon
Murray State University
Murray, KY
Major: Vocal Music Education
Scholarships:
Provost Scholarship - $20,000 KEES - $3,000 KHEAA - $5,300
Awards/Accomplishments:
Taken choir since 4th grade
Quad-State choir for 1 year
First District for 7 years
All-State for 6 years
Went to the SIU Honor choir trip for 2 years
ACDA National Honor Choir this year
Received a Distinguished rating for Solo and Ensemble for 2 years