The fine arts are thriving across the nation, state and in Killeen ISD where 50 high school seniors signed letters of intent this week to pursue creative courses of study at the college level.
Killeen ISD Fine Arts began Monday a series of five ceremonies spread across three days celebrating the commitments of seniors on the verge of graduation already committed to study band, choir, theater, orchestra, visual arts and other fields in the arts.
At Chaparral High School, 21 students participated in the signing ceremony and at Harker Heights High School another six signed letters of intent.
On Tuesday, 10 students at Shoemaker High School and two at Killeen High School added their names to the fine arts signing commitment list.
On Wednesday at Ellison High School another 12 students made their commitments known.
In each ceremony, KISD Fine Arts Director Morganne Davies described the growth of art as a career field in Texas the past 25 years and the statistics that support the academic value of studying fine arts.
A total of 175 KISD high school seniors active in fine arts programs participated in a survey that showed 75 percent accepted to a four-year university and a combined total of $1.6 million in earned college scholarships.
This year’s 50 KISD seniors participating in signing ceremonies is an increase from 38 last year.
Signees are either accepted into a college-level fine arts program or have gained acceptance into a college ensemble or other fine arts group through audition or are entering directly into the workforce in a fine arts career.
About 950,000 Texans, or 1 in 14 workers are employed in creative fields. Since 2012, Texas’ arts and culture industry has grown 63 percent, pouring $73 million into the state economy, fine arts leaders said during the ceremonies.
From a student standpoint, fine arts students have a 46 percent greater chance at passing Texas Success Initiative standards, are 20 percent more likely to earn dual credit during high school and 87 percent more likely to attend college.
KISD fine arts signing ceremony photos are available for viewing and download at www.killeenisd.org/photos
KISD fine arts signees include the following:
Chaparral HS
Alyza Dorsey Oklahoma City University Theater
Anaiah Chamberlain Stephen F. Austin State University Musical Theater
Kaitlyn Dooley Texas A&M Corpus Christi Theater
Ava Morgan Oklahoma City University Acting
Lameika Boulding Rowan University Technical Theater and Design
Hadassah Moon University of Houston Arts and Theater Administration
Armie Melton Texas A&M Corpus Christi Theater Education
Marlee Luther Marymount Manhattan Theater Arts
Brayden Reynolds Central Texas College Music Education
Isaac Brock University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
Zachary Repine University of Houston Music Education
Amani Mitchell Texas State University Music Education
Zane Conway University of Houston Music Education
Lya Bailey University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Nursing and One Voice choir
Kaelyn Reynolds Texas Women’s University Music Therapy
David Marin Soto Temple College Music Performance and Composition
Serenity Ruiz University of North Texas Psychology and color guard
Kayoni Harrell Stephen F. Austin State University Theater
Finn Brantley The School of the Art Institute of Chicago Film, Video, New Media and Animation
Zyon Thompson Central Texas College Studio Art
Sam Harris Angelo State University Musical Theater
Harker Heights HS
James “Sebastian” Lowe University of North Texas
Hannah Thompson University of Texas at Austin Music Education
Laila Torres-Mendoza Temple College Fine Arts
Uriel Benitez Berklee College of Music Music Education and Performance
Benjamin Saban Contreras Texas State University Music Education
Jade Akech University of North Texas Music Composition
Shoemaker HS
Essex Turner Prairie View A&M Media Design
Carmalynn Barcenilla Texas State University Theater
Leanna Borders University of North Texas
Janiya Johnson Savannah College of Art and Design Visual Arts
Marquel Parks Central Texas College Music
Flavio Gabriel University of Texas at Austin Music Composition
Diego King East Texas A&M University Music Education
Tai’Jah Adams Albany State University Criminal Justice and dance team
Eliannice Rosario East Texas A&M University
Timothy Mortenson University of Texas at San Antonio Theater
Killeen HS
Eliel Santiago Texas A&M Corpus Christi Musical Theater
Isabelle Jundi University of the Incarnate Word Multimedia Communications
Ellison HS
Malachi Nuckolls Temple College Musical Theater
Tatiana White McMurry University Theater
Victoria Bennett Stephen F. Austin State University Musical Theater
Peyton McGuire Stephen F. Austin State University Technical Theater
Justin Mages Temple College Theater
Dillard “CJ” Hughes University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Graphic Design and Animation
Shaun Watson University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Music Education
Hunter Emblen University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Music Education
Jacob “JT” Tolbert Baylor University
Luisrael Ramos Martinez University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Nursing and Music
Zuleyca Lopez-Kelly University of Houston Fine Arts in Dance
Callie Walker University of Texas San Antonio Music Education and Vocal Performance
