Seniors Michaela Mense, Adam Segura and Maridee Weber were honored for their artistic abilities at Johnson County Community College on Sunday, March. 29. This program, called The Shooting Star Program was created in 1997 in order to celebrate high school students and their excellence in the arts. For each artistic category two scholarships were given away; a $1,400 scholarship for first place and a $700 scholarship for second place.

Although Mense, Segura and Weber did not receive scholarships, Segura, who was nominated for theater performance felt privileged to be a nominee for The Shooting Stars Program.

“It feels very honoring that [director] Jon Copeland would pick me out of such a great senior class of thespians and all the people I’ve enjoyed doing shows with,” Segura said. “I feel very grateful being selected to represent the Mill Valley theater department.”

After the awards ceremony, Mense, who was nominated for voice classic had good things to say about The Shooting Stars Program.

“It was great to be around a higher level of performers, Mense said. “It’s made me have more confidence in myself.”

Weber, who was nominated for two-dimensional art also believes that being apart of The Shooting Star Program has effected her in a positive way.

“It’s made me put more effort into my artwork,” Weber said. “I didn’t realize that art was such an important thing that people admired [and] because it was such an honor it’s made me put more work into what I do.”

Segura, who is planning to major in theater explained why he loves his artistic talent.

“The reason I love it so much is because I love making people smile [and] I love taking people out of their world to come sit and enjoy a show,” Segura said. “I feel like it’s good to see the happy shows and it’s always good to see the sad shows to see how good of a life you have. The magic of theater is taking people out of their own world to enjoy a world made completely by actors.”

Weber also loves the art that she creates.

“It means a lot to me,” Weber said. “I think it’s a really good way for me to express myself and it’s something that not everyone can do so I really appreciate it.”

The Shooting Stars Program was an accomplishment for Segura however, the journey to becoming a shooting star was not easy.

“[There] was a lot of paperwork to fill out. A lot of applications and forms,” Segura said. “I had to audition [and] decide my pieces and times, then send them in. I sang a musical theater song and I did a monologue and so that’s what they’re judging this all off [of].”

Weber also had to work hard in order to become a shooting star.

“I had to submit a portfolio of nine pieces of art and I had to take pictures of all those,” Weber said. “Then I had to create a resume and answer some online [questions] about what it meant to me to be nominated.”

Being nominated was exciting for Mense as she believes that advancing in her artistic talent is very significant.

“Singing is something that everyone does, just in their car or in the shower,” Mense said. “But to commit to it and make an art form out of it is just something really special.”