Awards/Affliations
Department Affliations
International Thespian Society
California Educational Theatre Association
San Diego Theatre Educators Alliance (SDTEA)
Recognitions
Teacher of the Year 2018-19 for Monte Vista- Julie Benitez
Creating Sets that Pop!- Julie Benitez, presenter: California Thespians Association 2015
Creating a Technical Theatre Program- Julie Benitez, co-presenter: California Educational Theatre Association's Two-day Professional Development Institute, 2013
Technical Theatre: Safety and Skill Assessments-Julie Benitez, presenter: San Diego Office of Education Arts Summit 2012
Covering the Ugly, and Making it Pretty: How to Make Your Sets Better! -Julie Benitez, presenter: San Diego Educational Theatre Association Conference 2008 and 2015
Beyond Building Basics: How to Improve Your Sets - Julie Benitez, presenter: San Diego Educational Theatre Association Conference 2006
Distinguished Theatre Program: San Diego Educators Theatre Association
Bravissimo Award 2006- Julie Benitez: San Diego Educators Theatre Association
Awards
National Youth Theatre Awards
2019-2020 (Only Fall Performances- click for full list)
Award Winner:
Lead Performer in a Play: Thomas Wilcox as PonyBoy in The Outsiders
Nominations:
Supporting Performance in a Play: Madison Burdette for Cherry in The Outsiders
Supporting Performance in a Play: Olesia Winbush for Dallas in The Outsiders
2018-2019 (click for full list)
Award Winners:
Lead Performance in a Musical: LaSane Robertson as Mr. Darling/Captain Hook in Peter Pan Jr.
Lead Performance in a Play: Olesia Winbush as Katharina in Taming of the Shrew
Supporting Performance (Junior Division): Crosby James as Michael in Peter Pan Jr.
Choreography: MJ Turner for Peter Pan Jr.
Nominations:
Lead Performance in a Musical: Olesia Winbush as Peter Pan in Peter Pan Jr.
Lead Performance in a Play: Ashley Malli as Petruchio in Taming of the Shrew
Supporting Performance in a Musical: Evelin Olivares as John in Peter Pan Jr.
Supporting Performance in a Play: Zaina Price as Bianca in Taming of the Shrew
Supporting Performance in a Play: LaSane Robertson as Hortensio in Taming of the Shrew
Supporting Performance in a Play: Thomas Wilcox as Grumio in Taming of the Shrew
Featured Performance in a Musical: Daphne Narvaez Cruz as Nana in Peter Pan Jr.
Featured Performance in a Musical: Diane Vicente as Twin 2/Liza in Peter Pan Jr.
Featured Performance (Junior Division): Piper-Joy Luray as Narrator/Girl in Peter Pan Jr.
2017-2018 (click for full list)
Award Winners:
Outstanding Production: Kissed the Girls and Made Them Cry
Lead Performance in a Play: Madison Burdette as Katelyn in Kissed the Girls and Made Them Cry
Lead Performance in a Play: Samantha Olvera as Ashley in Kissed the Girls and Made Them Cry
Lead Performance in a Play: Zaina Price as Courtney in Kissed the Girls and Made Them Cry
Direction: Julie Benitez for Kissed the Girls and Made Them Cry
Nominations:
Lead Performance in a Musical: Christian Najee Gordon as Danny in Grease
Lead Performance in a Play: Christian Najee Gordon as Theo in Kissed the Girls and Made Them Cry
Lead Performance in a Play: Aubrie Ibasco as Miranda in Kissed the Girls and Made Them Cry
Lead Performance in a Play: Jonathan Kooyman as Joey in Kissed the Girls and Made Them Cry
Supporting Performance in a Musical: Jocelyne Garcia as Rizzo in Grease
Supporting Performance in a Musical: Zaina Price as Marty in Grease
Supporting Performance in a Musical: Olesia Winbush as Jan in Grease
Supporting Performance in a Play: La’Sane Robertson as Ryan in Kissed the Girls and Made Them Cry
Supporting Performance in a Play: Spencer Stewart as Jordan in Kissed the Girls and Made Them Cry
Ensemble: Kissed the Girls and Made Them Cry
Choreography: MJ Turner for Kissed the Girls and Made Them Cry
Grossmont College DramaFest
Third Place, Scene Category- Alina Lopez, Sam Orosco, Thomas Wilcox: 2020
Finalist, Monologue Category- Tess Whaley, 2020
Finalist, Scene Category-Madison Burdette, Olesia Winbush: 2019
Third Place, Scene Category-Jonathan Kooyman, Zaina Price: 2018
Finalist, Scene Category-Israel Garcia, Christian Najee Gordon: 2018
Third Place, Monologue Category-Jamie Boyd: 2017
Finalist, Monologue Category-Tristin Beery: 2017
Finalist, Scene Category-Aubrie Ibasco, Zaina Price: 2017
Third Place, Monologue Category-Jake Strohl: 2016
First Place, Scene Category- Chance Brayman, Alex Slade: 2012
First Place, Monologue Category-Haley Horton: 2011
Second Place, Monologue Category-Ariel Wilson: 2011
Third Place, Scene Category-Chance Brayman, Alex Slade: 2011
Second Place, Scene Category- Jack Koester, Paige Horton, Vim Iglesia: 2009
Grossmont Union High School District Theatre Competition (ended in 2008)
Overall School Winner: 2008
Outstanding Actor- Jack Koester: 2008
First Place Scene- Chris Ward, Dayne Miller: 2008
First Place Scene- Grant Crow, Amy Lettau: 2007
First Place Song-"My Defenses Are Down" Annie Get Your Gun: 2007
Outstanding Actress- Bianca Espinoza: 2007
Overall School Winner: 2006
First Place Scene-Tyler Burgin, Natalia Gomez: 2006
First Place Monologue-Allison Fenner: GUHSD Theatre Competition 2006
Second Place Scene- Allison Fenner, Dayne Miller: 2006
Overall School Winner: 2005
First Place Scene-Rebekah Levine, Amanda Rossi: 2005
First Place Monologue-Christine Herde: 2005
First Place Dance: 2005
Overall School Winner: 2004
First Place Scene- David Rich, Christine Herde, Grant Crow: 2004
Second Place Song-" I Still Believe" Miss Saigon: 2004
English Speaking Union Shakespeare Competition
Finalist in San Diego English Speaking Union Shakespeare Competiton- Cambria Ruth, 2014
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