UCS students earn $5.3 million in scholarships at Michigan Thespian Festival

SHELBY TOWNSHIP/STERLING HEIGHTS/UTICA — Utica Community Schools theater students received top honors and more than $5.3 million in scholarships at the Michigan Thespian Festival that was held December 13-14 in Lansing.

Students from more than 80 schools across Michigan took part in the annual festival, which featured keynote speakers and nearly 100 workshops.

In the Individual Event categories, students performed or presented in front of a panel of three judges and received a rating of fair, good, excellent or superior, with excellent being the “Gold Standard.” Seniors could also audition for college scholarships.

Utica High School student Jaelyn Kaczmarczyk was named among the top 10 of the more than 1,600 students participating in the festival, earning a $500 thespian scholarship and nearly $500,000 in college scholarships. Her 11 college scholarships included scholarships from Central Michigan University, Eastern Michigan University, Northern Michigan University, University of Detroit Mercy and Wayne State University.

Kaczmarczyk said she was proud of all the hard work to get where she is now.

“I am so honored by the recognition. It is exciting to see all of my hard work pay off and to be representing Utica High School in this way,” she said in a press release.

Her theater teacher, Joel Kaczmarczyk, described her as a self-starter with strong organizational skills and persistence.

“Her perfectionist nature ensures that every task she undertakes is executed flawlessly. Jaelyn is well-liked and respected by everyone she meets. Her charming personality, positive outlook, and caring nature make her … fun to be around. I am not surprised so many colleges are showing interest in recruiting her,” he said in a press release.

Eisenhower High School students earned $4.8 million in combined scholarship offers.