Scholarships

The Founder’s Scholarship is given in Honor of Dr. Myrlene Kennedy.

Established in 2018 for the 5o^th Anniversary of the FHS Musical. This scholarship fund is established to honor the founder of the FHS Musical, Dr. Myrlene Kennedy, who began the tradition in 1968.  This scholarship is established in her memory.   

This Scholarship is given to a student who has been in at least two musicals and has demonstrated dedication through excellent performance in this year’s production.

The Best Supporting Actor and Actress Scholarship goes to the graduating seniors selected by the directors for having demonstrated an outstanding performance in a supporting role in the current musical production.

The Bette Hopper Scholarship Fund was established prior to the 1979 production of “Guys and Dolls” to be awarded to a Friendswood High School student who has participated in at least three FHS musicals. The scholarship is in memory of Bette Hopper who played the piano as accompanist for all the FHS musicals from 1969 to 1975, except in 1971 when she had her first bout with cancer. Between 1976 and 1978 she assisted during rehearsals and tryouts. Mrs. Hopper was dedicated to the musicals, even when she did not have a child attending the high school. She lost her fight with cancer in the summer of 1978. Bette would be proud to know her legacy continued when her great grandson Paul Birmingham appeared in the Children’s Band for The Music Man 2011.

You must be a graduating senior, must be a cast member of the current musical, must have participated in three Friendswood High School musicals, must have been a cast member in two of the three musicals participated in, must submit a resume of their high school activities and a letter stating why they should receive the scholarship. The final selection will be made by a committee composed of the directors. The scholarship will be presented following the second Saturday night’s performance.

The Directors’ Choice Scholarship was established in 2002 to honor a student that had participated in the FHS Musical for three or more years as a member of the cast, crew and/or pit band. This student must be a graduating senior, must be nominated by one of the directors, and posses the qualities of dedication, hard working, dependability, and loyalty. This scholarship will be given on an as needed basis as determined by the directors.

The Espirit De Corps Scholarship was established in 2020 to be presented to a Friendswood High School student who has participated in four FHS musicals and who has demonstrated the true meaning of “Espirit De Corps” – “in the spirit of the group.” The graduating senior selected by the directors is one who may have never had a solo, made the front row of a dance, uttered a single word from the stage, or be named stage manager, head of the light crew or sound crew, or played first chair in the pit band. But they did make every rehearsal, gave 110% to the musical regardless of the assignment and the directors know the presence of this student made a difference in the success of the show.

The Gailya Harris Scholarship was first established to be presented to a Friendswood High School student who is a three-year senior. Beginning in 2011 the Harris Family decided to give the scholarship to two FHS students a year. The scholarship is in memory of Gailya Harris, the mother of four FHS students – Graduates Holly, Hunter, Chad and Rodney. Gailya was best described as a dedicated wife and mother.

Gaiyla’s first contact with the FHS musicals came in 1987 when her daughter, Holly, played in the pit band. In 1987 Hunter joined the cast of “Mame”, and not long after Gaiyla said, “I wish you would get Chad involved.”

With Chad also making his stage debut in 1988, the show business bug had taken hold of the Harris family. Chad went on to play lead parts in The Music Man and in The Pajama Game, and Rodney joined the tradition in 1990 when he followed in the footsteps of his brothers and sister and became part of the FHS Musical Family. When Ed talked about this scholarship, he said, “Gailya really loved the musical.” This love was demonstrated by many things.

You would often find Gailya and Ed sitting in the back of the auditorium during rehearsals enjoying every minute of it. She wasn’t just an observer, she served on several of the parent committees. Her final contribution was working to ensure that the cast party for The Pajama Game would be a great success. She loved being part of her children’s school activities, and was always there to give her support. Gailya died May 12, 1990, following a short battle with cancer. Her quick smile and willingness to help in any way possible is missed by her family and the friends that knew and loved her.

The second generation of the Harris family appeared in the 2011 production of The Music Man when two of Chad’s daughters Jordynne and Brittany appeared in The Children’s Band.

Previously known as The Piano Lady Pit Band Scholarship, the Julio Sanchez Pit Band Scholarship was established in 2021 to honor FHS Musical conductor, Julio Sanchez who has conducted the Pit Band for 21 years.  This scholarship is given to honor the work of a two or three-year Pit Band Orchestra member.

Established in 2022 to honor the Senior represents FHS Musical both onstage and off.  The Karam brothers were an important part of the FHS Musical Family as students and we celebrate this legacy.

The Kirkwood Scholarship has been established to be presented to two Friendswood High School students who have participated in two or more FHS musicals in the cast, crew and/or pit band. Dr. Bo and Cherry Kirkwood created this scholarship to honor their sons, Danny (’00), a two year FHS musical cast member and Luke (’02), a four year FHS musical cast/pit band member.

The Mills Family Mustang Scholarship established in 2019 to honor a student who has done two or more musicals and is highly involved in other FHS extracurricular activities. A true Mustang.

The McLean Scholarship has been established to be presented to a Friendswood High School student who has participated in two or more FHS musicals as a crew member. Mark and Lynn McLean are the parents of two FHS graduates, Georgeanne (’94) and Shauna (’98). Both participated in four FHS musicals during their high school careers.

2023 - Mars Raska

Originally called The Trombatore Family Scholarship, this scholarship was established in 2003 to honor a Friendswood High School student who has demonstrated outstanding technical work as a crew member for two or more FHS musicals. The scholarship is named in honor of the memory of Mr. and Mrs. B.C. Trombatore, parents of Kathy Powdrell, director of the FHS Musical and grandchildren, Jason Huff, who appeared in three musicals (1991), Kristen Huff, one musical (1994), Powdy Powdrell (2000), who appeared in four musicals, and Lindsey Powdrell (2001) who participated in Pit Band and crew for four musicals and great grandparents of Kaylee Huff (2011), who appeared in four musicals and Sydney Huff, a member of The Children’s Band in the 2011 production of The Music Man.

The Trombatores were lifelong theatre goers and attended many FHS musicals in support of their grandchildren and daughter. Upon the director Kathy Powdrell’s husband’s (Earle) death in 2019 the scholarship has been renamed The Powdrell Family Scholarship.

This scholarship was established in 2021 and is for students who have been as amazed and mesmerized by the magic of the Friendswood High School Musical as our family has been since 1976. We hope this will help the recipients to follow their dreams and continue the magic.

Established in 2022 to honor a senior dancer who represents the power of dance. 

The Straughn Scholarship has been established to be presented to a Friendswood High School student who has participated in the chorus of three or more FHS musicals. The scholarship is named in honor of Mary Jane (Janie) Straughn, mother of Jane Ann Quevedo, vocal music director of 20 FHS musicals.

Mrs. Straughn was an accomplished musician herself and attended many FHS musicals during the time her granddaughters, Cristina in five (1994) and Gina in four (1996), appeared in FHS musicals.

2023 - Sara Throop

The Eunice Kennedy Outstanding Musical Award was established in 1979 to honor the student or students selected by the directors and their fellow cast members as having demonstrated an outstanding performance in the current musical production. The award is named in honor of Eunice Kennedy, mother of Myrlene Kennedy, director or producer of all but two of the musical productions held at Friendswood High School.

Mrs. Kennedy was a strong supporter of all Friendswood High School activities for twenty-eight years. She attended almost every performance of the first nineteen musicals presented at Friendswood and was deeply honored when the Eunice Kennedy Outstanding Musical Award was established.

The 1988 “Mame” Cast, Crew, and Pit Band honored the memory of Mrs. Kennedy who passed away November 8, 1987 with the presentation of the plaque which hangs in the foyer of the auditorium. The 1988 production of “Mame” was also presented in her honor.

Cast members eligible for selection must be seniors, be nominated by the directors, and be selected by their fellow cast members. Once senior boy and one senior girl are selected to receive the honor each year. The award is presented following the second Saturday night’s performance. In 1981, a scholarship was established for this award.

The Everett Scholarship was established in 2006 by June Everett to be presented to a Friendswood High School student who has participated in four FHS musicals and who has demonstrated the true meaning of “Espirit De Corps” – “in the spirit of the group.” The graduating senior selected by the directors is one who may have never had a solo, made the front row of a dance, uttered a single word from the stage, or be named stage manager, head of the light crew or sound crew, or played first chair in the pit band. But they did make every rehearsal, gave 110% to the musical regardless of their assignment and the directors know the presence of this student made a difference in the success of the show.

Mrs. Everett’s son, Gavin (’97) , appeared in four FHS musicals during his high school career including “My Fair Lady,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” “South Pacific” and “The Sound of Music.”

The Jeff Howison Technical Lighting Scholarship is being established for the 2012 musical to honor a student or students selected by the directors as having demonstrated outstanding work in the area of lighting for two or more years. The scholarship is named in honor of Jeff “Howie” Howison, a 1986 graduate who began his lighting career at Friendswood Junior High, continued at Friendswood High School working in four high school musicals as a student and over 20 FHS musicals after graduation. Jeff continued his passion for lighting through college at Panola Jr. College and Sam Houston State University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Radio/Television & Film and went on to become a Gaffer & Best Boy Electrician in the TV and film industry. Jeff’s support of the musical continued long after graduation, always ready to help when the call came and he heard the all to familiar words from Dr. K., “Jeff, I need your help…I have a problem.” He knew the auditorium like the back of his hand and could solve most problems. During the time his daughter Kelsei was in high school, he put on another hat as he worked with the Crew Dads, along side Kelsei as she served as a member of the crew for South Pacific, Hello, Dolly! and My Fair Lady.

A young man with a gift of “gab,” unquestionable loyalty, extreme dedication, a Mustang through and through who never forgot his roots, a true friend who fought a good fight and was courageous until the end of his battle with cancer on September 7, 2011. Jeff is missed by many, but few miss him more than Dr. K and the musical family.

The Lois Kennedy Harper Musical Scholarship was established in 1995 to honor a student nominated, but not selected for a musical scholarship, by the directors. This student must be a graduating senior, must have participated in three Friendswood High School musicals, and must have been nominated by one of the directors for either the Harris, Hopper, Kennedy, or Best Supporting Actor and Actress Scholarship.