West Side Takes Stage
Performing Arts Scholarship Competition
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.