COLUMBUS – With each performance, each set design, costume creation and makeup artistry, Columbus Middle School Performing and Visual Arts students took on the role of winning.

“I always say we have the best students because we do,” said Chelsea Petty, who teaches performing and visual arts. “Anytime I give them a challenge, they rise to the occasion. If it’s acting, if it’s technical design, if it’s a leadership role, our kids always step up and do amazing things.”

The CMS team walked away with 33 Superiors at the annual Mississippi Junior Thespian Conference this past weekend. Seven CMS students received callbacks to participate in the event.

“A few months ago many of our students submitted various individual events in performance, acting performance, dancing, musical performance, tech, tech design. They submitted those through videos to our adjudicators across the state. They were adjudicated and judged and the top eight-ten in each category. Two or three in tech design we chose to come here and be adjudicated by judges.
They performed live or set up their tech display in the lobby. We have judges that are here today to choose the top three. So, it’ll be the top three from across the state of Mississippi,” said Shannon McDowell, Mississippi Junior Thespian coordinator.

Seven schools and 156 students participated in the competition, which is essentially the state championship for junior thespians.

“While we are at a competition, we are not competitive,” McDowell said. “You’ll see students from schools supporting students from different schools. Everybody just wants everybody to do well. We don’t come in with the mentality like I want to beat this person. Everybody is supportive of everybody.”

This is Petty’s 14th year teaching at Columbus Middle School, and she still is amazed at the students that participate.

“These children have so much talent,” she said. “I’m blown away by their talent.”

Eighth-grader Oliva Jones competed in several categories, including costume construction, costume design, makeup design and solo monologue just to name a few. However, she has a favorite area of competition.

“I usually do tech stuff,” she said. “I do enjoy it because usually the people there are really nice and fun to talk to. Many of the other stage managers are my friends.”

Conference organizers say CMS has the facilities to make the event a success.

“I love this set-up,” McDowell said. “I love this building. It’s beautiful and everything is centralized to where we needed it. We appreciate the support we’ve had from the administration. Chelsea Petty is also amazing!”

The competition is great for the students, but Petty says it also has an impact on the entire community.

“It’s a great honor to host the conference,” she said. “This is the second time we have hosted. I think it’s good for our school district. It brings revenue to our town through hotel reservations and eating at restaurants. This conference will also see what an amazing school we have.”

A list of the winners is listed below:

Students earned a total of 33 Superior scores. This is the most Superiors for CMS ever in a single competition.

Costume Construction Superiors:

Dawson Jones
Amiya Magee
Kaylan Tate
Julisa Lowe
Olivia Jones

Costume Construction Top Awards:

1st Place: Kaylan Tate
2nd Place: Amiya Magee
3rd Place: Olivia Jones

Costume Design Superiors:

Amarii Jones
Dawson Jones
Olivia Jones
Amiya Magee

Costume Design Top Awards:

1st Place: Amarii Jones
2nd Place: Olivia Jones
3rd Place: Dawson Jones

Scenic Design Superiors:

Julisa Lowe
Olivia Jones

Make-up Design Superiors:

Olivia Jones

Solo Monologue Superiors:

Joyce Ayoola
Dawson Jones
Amarii Jones
Amiya Magee – perfect score
Kaylan Tate
Julisa Lowe
Olivia Jones – perfect score

Contrasting Monologues Superiors:

Joyce Ayoola
Dawson Jones
Amarii Jones
Amiya Magee – perfect score
Kaylan Tate
Julisa Lowe
Olivia Jones
Jamocika Moore
Julisa Lowe

Contrasting Monologues Top Awards:

2nd Place – Amiya Magee

Playwriting Superiors:

Olivia Jones
Amarii Jones

Group Musical Superiors:

Kaylan Tate
Amiya Magee
Kodeigh Davis

Group Musical Top Awards:

2nd Place: Kaylan Tate, Amiya Magee and Kodeigh Davis

Best Color Group Award:

Amarii Jones, Jamocika Moore, Iyanna Sherrod and Amiya Magee