Two Northwood High School juniors, Kamron Jamali and Kathleen Shumate, were selected as California State Thespian Officers. This prestigious appointment, presented by California Thespians, a Gold Chapter of the Educational Theatre Association (EdTA), is only provided to 10 theatre students across the state.
As State Thespian Officers, Jamali and Shumate will serve as representatives of student voices in theatre education across California. Their responsibilities will include participating in advanced leadership training, advocating for arts education and engaging in statewide service initiatives throughout the upcoming year.
The election took place at the California State Thespian Festival held at Pomona College, where Jamali and Shumate underwent a rigorous selection process. This included weeks of intensive interviews, as well as campaigning and delivering speeches to hundreds of fellow thespians at the festival.
The mission of California Thespians is to champion excellence in theatre arts education at the school, community and state levels. The organization works to foster a deep passion for the arts, empowering students through theatrical and leadership experiences that enrich their creative development.
“The IUSD Theatre Arts program hasn’t just provided these students with knowledge on how to perform—they learned to lead, collaborate, solve problems creatively and speak up with confidence,” commented Director of Arts IUSD Erin Zoumaras. “This new role provides them with a unique platform to amplify student voices, shape the future of theatre education and inspire their peers across the state. We are incredibly proud of their dedication and the positive impact they will undoubtedly make.”
Join us in congratulating these students on their achievements!