Four Recipients Awarded a Combined $6,000 as Part of Festival’s Annual School Days Initiative
Katy, Texas – May 1, 2019 – 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. Addison Hurst, a senior at Tompkins High School in Katy, Texas (Katy ISD), has been awarded the Fine Arts Scholarship, providing $1,500 toward the college or university in which she enrolls. The Fine Arts Scholarship is awarded to students planning to major in performing or visual arts.
Addison was recognized for her academic excellence, her many accolades and extracurricular activities, and volunteer work, including as a nationally qualifying Thespian actor and officer in her school’s American Sign Language club. She is also a member of the school’s theatre company and National Honor Society. Elizabeth plans to attend Texas Christian University, where she will pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting with a minor in American Sign Language.
“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.”
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. 5-6, 2019, 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.
Additional scholarship recipients include Andrew Hodge, of Willis High School in Willis, Texas (Humanities); Elizabeth Neman, of Oak Ridge High School in Spring, Texas (Education); and Gabrielle Williams, of Magnolia West High School in Magnolia, Texas (TRF Participant).
About Texas Renaissance Festival
The Texas Renaissance Festival is the nation’s largest and most acclaimed Renaissance themed event. Established in 1974, the event attracts over half a million visitors each year to its 55-acre New Market Village and Fields of New Market Campgrounds in Todd Mission, Texas. This immersive experience features world renowned live entertainment, works by master artists and craftspeople, award winning food and drink, hand-powered rides and games, and over 100 interactive characters during its nine themed weekends from October 5 through December 1, 2019. For more information, please visit www.texrenfest.com.