Pike County Extension for Fine Arts realizes that encouraging and training new, youthful leaders is important to the success and future of its programming.  

With this in mind, Pike County Extension for Fine Arts actively recruits students of all ages, year-round, to become volunteers and advocates for the arts.  Not only is the county arts programming better for their participation, but the students benefit as well.  Students learn leadership skills, gain self-esteem and real world knowledge that will be used toward college and career goals, and are given a real sense of community. 

This year, Pike County Extension for Fine Arts is proud to acknowledge two distinguished graduating high school senior volunteers: Abby and Whitney.  Both of these seniors worked extensively with Artists Collaborative Theatre (ACT) in Elkhorn City and Whitney has been working with the Hatfield and McCoy Arts Council (HMAC) in McCarr her entire high school career. Both were involved in over a dozen shows through acting and performing technical crew responsibilities, such as costuming, running lights and sound boards, building sets, and designing props.   

Abby has been involved in dozens of shows at ACT and even became lead costumer during the kids’ shows. Whitney has been involved in six shows at ACT and has acted and run tech with the HMAC in Blood Song: The Story of the Hatfields and the McCoys for the past four years. 

Each student maintained an above average GPA while in high school.  Abby assisted with teaching and mentoring students in the tuition-free after school theatre classes offered at ACT to all students in grades K-12.  They were both previously students in the classes.  

Both are honored members of the International Thespian Society, a student honorary organization that serves students grades 9-12 and is backed by the Educational Theatre Association.  

Pike County Extension for Fine Arts was excited to work with these students to secure funding for college, including a scholarship for $500 each from ACT. Whitney also received a $500 scholarship from the HMAC.  Whitney will be attending Morehead State University, while Abby will stay closer to home at UPike.