Four Recipients Awarded a Combined $6,000 as Part of Festival's Annual School Days Initiative
Texas Renaissance Festival, the nation's largest and most acclaimed festival of food, fun and 16th-century magic, announced today the recipients of its School Days Scholarship Program. "We created the School Days Scholarship Program as a way to reward those students who show great promise and enrich their respective communities," said Kim Bryant, School Days coordinator for the Texas Renaissance Festival. "We consider our fellow Texans to be the heart of all those who descend upon Texas Renaissance Festival each year, and it fills us with immense pride that we can give back to them in an equally special way."
Gabrielle McCullough, a senior at Porter High School in Porter, Texas (New Caney ISD), has been awarded the Educators Scholarship, providing $1,500 toward the college or university in which she enrolls. The Educators Scholarship is awarded to students planning to major in education, to become a teacher in a public or private school.
Gabrielle was recognized for her academic excellence, her many accolades and extracurricular activities, and musical endeavors, including as an officer in the National Honor Society and a top competitor in the UIL Region and State competitions. She plans to attend the University of Houston, where she will pursue a Bachelor of Music (Voice) with Elective Studies in Teacher Certification.
Jade Parbs, a senior at Lufkin High School (Lufkin ISD), has been awarded the Participant Scholarship, providing $1,500 toward the college, university or trade school in which she enrolls. The Participant Scholarship is awarded to students who have worked for the Texas Renaissance Festival or one of its vendors in a previous season.
Jade was recognized for exhibiting maturity while balancing work and extracurricular activities and maintaining high academic performance. This was underscored by her tenure as a Texas Renaissance Festival employee for six years, her performance and leadership in the high school band, endeavors as an award-winning gymnast and gymnastics coach in her spare time, and inspiration to pursue a career in medicine. She intends to major in chemistry at Lamar University, with a concentration in biochemistry and pre-medical studies.
Nayeli Sanchez, a senior at Willis High School in Conroe, Texas (Willis ISD), has been awarded the Humanities Scholarship, providing $1,500 toward the college or university in which she enrolls. The Humanities Scholarship is awarded to students planning to major in the subjects of history, English or foreign languages.
Nayeli was recognized for her academic achievement, community service endeavors, professional immersion, and commitment to learning business through the lens of foreign languages. She plans to major in either Spanish or Chinese at The University of Texas at Austin, and pursue a master's degree in accounting and finance, before heading to law school.
Adithya Chunangad, a senior at The Woodlands College Park High School (Conroe ISD), has been awarded the Fine Arts Scholarship, providing $1,500 toward the college or university in which he enrolls. The Fine Arts Scholarship is awarded to students planning to major in one of the Fine Arts (dance, instrumental music, theatre arts, visual/graphic arts or vocal music).
Adithya was recognized for his commitment to honing his musical craft as both a pianist and vocalist, including an education in classical composition and opera, high school musical theatre productions, private instruction, public competitions, and performances, as a member of the Texas All-State Choir, and more. He intends to double major in chemical engineering and voice performance at The University of Texas at Austin.
Candidates are evaluated against academic performance, extracurricular involvement service, and essays detailing personal ambitions, goals, and influences. The scholarship program is an annual extension of Texas Renaissance Festival's School Days, Nov. 6-7, 2018, when the Festival is open only to teachers and students. During School Days, students are introduced to the culture, art, science, and literature of the Renaissance period, and have the opportunity to learn courtly dances, the ancient art of falconry, the history of arms and armor, and more.
We are very proud of these students and wish them great success and joy in their endeavors!
