🎥 Ellis County fifth-graders portray Famous Figures during annual event

Colt Raudis, Roosevelt Elementary School fifth-grader, won the first-place trophy in the annual Famous Figures competition on Friday for his portrayal of Mozart. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post

The annual Famous Figures finals were Friday at the Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center.

Watch a video of the finalists' performances on YouTube.

Now in its 27th year, Hays Arts Council Famous Figures is a living history and performance project open to fifth-grade students in Ellis County public and private schools.

It involves a short performance as a favorite person (living or deceased) from the present through the distant past. The project promotes the use of research skills, awareness and appreciation of the qualities of a positive role model, thinking and writing in a creative manner, and developing acting and public speaking skills. We are proud to have this annual project supported by the Hays Rotary Club. — Hays Arts Council

Sabrie VanKooten, Wilson Elementary School fifth-grader, portrays <i>Margaret "Unsinkable Molly" Brown </i><i>during the Famous Figures finals on Friday. She placed fourth. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</i> — Sabrie VanKooten, Wilson Elementary School fifth-grader, portrays *Margaret "Unsinkable Molly" Brown* *during the Famous Figures finals on Friday. She placed fourth. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post*

Trophy winners

First place         Colt Raudis (Roosevelt) as Mozart
Second place        Graycee Herl (O’Loughlin) as Tad Lucas
Third place        Ruby Conner (Wilson) as Mariah Carey
Fourth place        Sabrie VanKooten (Wilson) as Margaret Brown
There was a six-way tie for fifth place.
Fifth place        Caden Giebler (Wilson) as Steve Irwin
Fifth place        Robyn Smalley (O’Loughlin) as Abigail Adams
Fifth place        Mason Goff (Victoria) as J.R.R. Tolkein
Fifth place        Ania Lynch (Roosevelt) as Dolly Parton
Fifth place       Myka Schoeph (Holy Family) as Pat Summitt
Fifth place        Bethany Eiden (Wilson) as Katelyn Ohashi

Robyn Smalley, fifth-grader at O'Loughlin Elementary School, portrays <i>Abigail Adams during the Famous Figures finals on Friday. Smalley tied for fifth-place. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</i> — Robyn Smalley, fifth-grader at O'Loughlin Elementary School, portrays *Abigail Adams during the Famous Figures finals on Friday. Smalley tied for fifth-place. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post*

Photo of all the 2023 Famous Figures finalists. Courtesy photo

All finalists

Roosevelt finalists
Colt Raudis – Mozart
Brynlee Walter – Amberley Snyder
Sloane Hill – Helen Keller
Isla Erbert – Coco Chanel
Sera Schippers – Betty White
Ania Lynch – Dolly Parton

O’Loughlin finalists
Robyn Smalley as Abigail Adams
Braelyn Dumler as J. K. Rowling
Liam Sullivan as George Sternberg
Ibrahim Camran as Sundar Pichai
Graycee Herl as Tad Lucas
Owen Bieker as Benjamin Franklin

Wilson finalists
Josh Solida as Cristiano Ronaldo
Bethany Eiden as Katelyn Ohashi
Taten Mayfield as John Madden
Sabrie VanKooten as Margaret Brown
Ruby Connor as Mariah Carey
Caden Giebler as Steve Irwin

Lincoln finalists
Lila Denham as Ansel Adams
Kaylee Jackson as Cleopatra
Brandon Cano as Hector Moreno
Camdyn Otte as Alex Morgan

Holy Family finalists
Hannah Flax-Clara Barton
Weston Unrein-Bob Ross
Myka Schoeph-Pat Summitt
Madelynne Corsair-J. K. Rowling

Victoria finalists
Mason Goff as J.R.R. Tolkien
Kynlee Nuss as Helen Keller

Washington (Ellis) finalists
Lux Bell-Princess Diana
Linley Gabel-Martha Washington
Lona Guffey-Molly Pitcher
Hailey McMillan-Queen Victoria

St Mary’s (Ellis) finalists
Jadyn Hann - Jackie Stiles
Caleb Schield - John McCain