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West Side Takes Stage Scholarship Contest was founded by 

Dr. Samia Merza-Fillpot and Mr. Ron Swift.

West Side Takes Stage is a college-articulated competition that promotes a positive 

connection between students in grades 6-12 living on the Westside and

college and career readiness mindset through the love of the arts.  

Working with various community members and organizations to design

an educational pathway for talented students to hold on to their dream in the

performing arts as well as to increase their chance to enter and graduate from college. 

We wanted to offer our students in 6th-12th grade a college-type audition experience

to instill and ​inspire college and career of confidence and develop strong critical skills

in academia. We have partnered with the West Side Theatre and surrounding colleges

 to bring in professionals from the performing arts community to judge and select

three winners {1st, 2nd, & 3rd place per category: instrumental, visual art,

photography, dance, vocal, & short monologues} to receive  college-bound scholarships

in amounts of $ 1000, $ 500, & $ 250. 

    Go West Side!

   Samia Merza-Fillpot        Ron Swift