Young Playwrights' Theater (YPT) was recognized with the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award by First Lady Michelle Obama at a private White House ceremony today.
Formerly the Coming Up Taller Award, the NAHYP award is administered by the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The award honors community-based arts and humanities programs that make a marked difference in the lives of their participants by improving academic scores and graduation rates, enhancing life skills, and developing positive relationships with peers and adults. Chosen from a pool of more than 400 nominations and 50 finalists, Young Playwrights' Theater was honored by the First Lady for its innovative, in-depth After-School Playwriting Program, in which students collaborate to create a play based on literary works and their own stories. The award is the highest honor arts education programs can receive in the United States.Accepting the award from Mrs. Obama on behalf of Young Playwrights' Theater was Heidy Lovo, an 18-year-old graduate of the program, who was accompanied to the White House by David Andrew Snider, Producing Artistic Director and CEO of YPT. "Standing with the First Lady of the United States in the White House and accepting this award was amazing," said Heidy. "It makes me feel really good to know that people care what I have to say, and that what I have to say can change the world." Also speaking at the event was Mariana Pavón Sánchez, another YPT student, who spoke about YPT's effect on her life and the lives of her fellow students. As a tenth grader at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Mariana participated in YPT's In-School Playwriting Program. Mariana offers the following advice to other young people who are interested in playwriting: "Don't be afraid to express yourself through writing, even if it is something small."Videos