The West Virginia State Student Thespian Board (a.k.a. State Student Board) is a group of twelve (12) theatre students elected by their peers at the Area Festivals to help serve needs of the WV State Thespian Festival for the following year. Applicants should be fun, hard working, high-energy students who are willing to work independently as well as in groups to further the goals of the WV State Thespian Board. Applicants need to possess the ability to speak in front of large or small groups, have the ability to multi-task, and show organizational skills. If you are elected to the Student Board be prepared to work hard, but have a lot of fun as well! WV High School Students do not have to be elected members to participate with the student board. Any student may participate, but only elected members will be allowed to cast an official vote. These non-voting members of the board are considered Student Board Volunteers.
The Mission of the West Virginia State Student Thespian Board (Student Board) is to assist the WV State Thespian Board in creating a “student centered” experience at the WV State Thespian Festival.
The Goals of the Student Board are as follows:
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Set an example of what is and is not acceptable behavior at the WV State Thespian Festival
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Assist in the planning and execution of workshops, festivals and competitions at the WV State Thespian Festival
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Assist the schools who attend the WV State Thespian Festival in any way possible
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Keep West Virginia Student Thespian Troupes informed and active
The Responsibilities of the Student Board include, but are not limited to:
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One-act play festival and Scene Competition introductions
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Assist workshop presenters
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Assist in Area Festivals as needed by the Area Representative and/or host school
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Attend the WV State Board Meetings (usually in Fairmont). A quorum of at least five (5) state student board members are needed to have an official vote on issues.
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Arrive at the State Thespian Festival the night before to assist in its preparation.
Elections:
Each elected Board Member will serve a one-year term with the possibility of re-election. This term will last from State Festival of the year they are elected to the following year’s State Festival.
Elections will take place at each of the Area Festivals. Each school participating at the Area Festival will be given five (5) votes to cast. These five votes can be broken up in any way between the candidates. The directors from each school will receive the ballot from the Area Rep. The directors will then canvas their students to determine which candidate(s) will receive the five votes. The ballots will then be given back to the Area Rep who will count the votes and announce the two nominated student board members and one alternate at the Area Festival’s Award Ceremony.
These two nominated student board members will then have to come to the State Festival a day early to shadow the presiding student board in prepping and helping out at the festival. If an elected student does not attend the festival they lose their seat to the alternate. If the alternate does not attend, the Area Rep may nominate a student from the total list of eligible candidates that ran at the Area Festival. If none of these students are available, then the Area Rep may nominate a student from his or her own school who meets the requirements of being a student board member.
To be Eligible to become a candidate for the Student Board, students must do the following:
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Receive a nomination from their school’s Thespian Troupe Sponsor. A sponsor may only nominate two (2) students from a single school.
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Applicants in each area will be required to prepare a 1 – minute speech communicating why they should become a member of the student board. This speech will be given at each of the Area Festivals to the visiting delegates.
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Applications need to be received by the Area Rep two (2) weeks before the student’s Area Festival. Applications CANNOT be accepted on the day of the Area Festival. Incomplete forms will be returned if necessary.
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Applicants must be an inducted Thespian in good standing in the International Thespian Society at the school they attend. If a student’s school does not have a Thespian Troupe, then the student can become a Thespian in a troupe from a nearby school that does.
Please fill out the West Virginia State Student Thespian Board Applicationon page 51 and mail or fax it to your school’s Area Rep at least two weeks before your Area Festival
Return to State Thespian Festival Events Page
