Agape Theatre Awards First Annual Joan Baker Scholarship in Theater Arts to Eryn Northcutt

Agape Theatre, Inc. is pleased to announce that Eryn Northcutt has been chosen as the recipient of the first annual Joan Baker Scholarship in Theater Arts.

The Joan Baker Scholarship is offered to further Agape Theatre's mission to provide young performers and artists an environment in which to hone their craft. The $500 scholarship will be awarded every year to an incoming college freshman who displays a genuine interest and dedication to theater.

A recent graduate of James Bowie High School in Austin, TX, Eryn Northcutt will attend the University of Texas at Austin this fall and will major in Theatre Education.

"I am beyond grateful to be the first ever recipient of the Joan Baker Scholarship," said Northcutt. "It is such an amazing opportunity for Performing Arts majors to have a scholarship dedicated solely to us. I hope to use this scholarship to propel me forward in my college education and help me positively impact my community as a theatre teacher."

Though she may have just graduated High School, Northcutt already has an impressive resume with over ten years of theater experience. She explains, "I first fell in love with theatre at the young age of 6 and began auditioning at local theaters around town." However, it wasn't until High School that she discovered her passion for theater education. "In high school, I worked hard to be an officer of my theatre company as well as a Senior Director. Through my high school theatre experiences, I decided I wanted to become a theatre teacher so I could have as great of an impact on my future students as my teachers have had on me."

Eryn Northcutt was one of many applicants to the Joan Baker Scholarship in Theater Arts. All applicants were required to submit a resume, high school transcript, letters of recommendation, and two essays. Applications were evaluated via a blind review process by a Scholarship Committee comprised of theater professionals across Travis and Williamson County.

"We are beyond thrilled that the Joan Baker Scholarship in Theater Arts has received such a fantastic response from applicants and from the public at large," said Jeff Davis, Artistic Director of Agape Theatre. "As a theater company with a commitment to education, establishing a scholarship was an easy decision to come by, and it's fitting and satisfying that the first recipient of the scholarship happens to be an individual with the same passion for theater education. Miss Northcutt's excitement and enthusiasm for the arts is infectious, and we expect great things from her. We couldn't be happier to award this scholarship to her."

Agape Theatre will begin accepting applications for the 2017 Joan Baker Scholarship in Theater Arts in the Fall. Application details and deadlines will be announced shortly.

The Joan Baker Scholarship in Theater Arts is completely funded through donations and sponsorships. To contribute to the Joan Baker Scholarship Fund, please visit http://www.agapetheatre.org/sponsor--donate.html