UNIVERSAL CITY, CALIF.: NBC has awarded grants to 50 high schools across the country to support theatre education programs. The R.I.S.E. grants (Recognizing and Inspiring Student Expression), totaling half a million dollars, are made possible in part by the Education Theatre Foundation. The R.I.S.E. initiative was inspired by NBC’s upcoming television show “Rise,” which premiered March 13.
The recipients were selected from a pool of 1,000 submissions. The recipient schools will receive $10,000 each to support production expenses, technical equipment, master classes, or any critical needs for running the program.
“It is a dream come true for me that ‘Rise’ will have a genuine impact on 50 high school drama programs throughout the country,” said Jason Katims, the show’s creator and executive producer, in a statement. “It has never been clearer that the future of our country rests on the shoulders of the next generation of young leaders. I am excited about the notion that the R.I.S.E. America grants will help support, inspire and nurture creative young minds throughout the country, especially at a time when arts in education is under-valued and under-funded. I am blown away by the generosity of NBC and Bob Greenblatt, along with the efforts of the Educational Theatre Foundation, who have made this all possible.”
In order to qualify for a R.I.S.E. grant, a high school was required to have an existing theatre program or, in cases where a school’s program was cut for budgetary reasons, a champion of the theatre arts on their staff. Schools submitted videos showcasing their programs, a 500-word essay on why their school should receive the grant, and a letter of recommendation from a school administrator.
The recipients include:
- Charles Henderson High School, Troy, Ala.
- American Canyon High School, American Canyon, Calif.
- Henry J. Kaiser High School, Fontana, Calif.
- Mariposa County High School, Mariposa, Calif.
- Vaughn Next Century Learning Center, San Fernando, Calif.
- Seaside High School, Seaside, Calif.
- Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy, Denver
- Enfield High School, Enfield, Conn.
- School Without Walls, Washington, D.C.
- Hallandale High School, Hallandale Beach, Fla.
- Plant City High School, Plant City, Fla.
- The Howard School, Atlanta
- Nanakuli High and Intermediate School, Waianae, Hawaii
- Jefferson High School, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- Glenbard West High School, Glen Ellyn, Ill.
- Scecina Memorial High School, Indianapolis
- Leavenworth High School, Leavenworth, Kan.
- Boyle County High School, Danville, Ky.
- Alfred Bonnabel Magnet Academy High School, Kenner, La.
- The Baltimore City College, Baltimore
- Hamtramck High School, Hamtramck, Mich.
- Pine Island High School, Pine Island, Minn.
- Grand Center Arts Academy, St. Louis
- Gautier High School, Gautier, Miss.
- Park High School, Livingston, Mont.
- Malcolm Public Schools, District 148, Malcolm, Neb.
- Belmont High School, Belmont, N.H.
- Bound Brook High School, Bound Brook, N.J.
- Union Senior High School, Union, N.J.
- Digital Arts & Technology Academy, Albuquerque, N.M.
- Equipo Academy East Las Vegas College Prep, Las Vegas
- Hastings High School, Hastings-On-Hudson, N.Y.
- Peekskill High School, Peekskill, N.Y.
- James N Gamble Montessori, Cincinnati
- Dublin Scioto High School, Dublin, Ohio
- Henryetta High School, Henryetta, Okla.
- Regis St. Mary Catholic School, Stayton, Ore.
- Harry S. Truman High School, Levittown, Pa.
- Mastery Charter Schools Foundation, Philadelphia
- Central Falls High School, Central Falls, R.I.
- Deubrook Area School District 5-6, White, S.D.
- Jackson County High School, Gainesboro, Tenn.
- John Overton Comprehensive High School, Nashville
- Alice High School, Alice, Texas
- Jack Yates High School, Houston
- Pharr San Juan Alamo North Early College High School, Pharr, Texas
- Heritage High School, Leesburg, Va.
- Rainier Beach High School, Seattle
- Hudson High School, Hudson, Wisc.
- Martinsburg High School, Martinsburg, W. Va.
