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The Spotlight Circle gives out Merit Awards to selected students who are actively involved in the MiraCosta Theatre Program. These awards are based upon student experience, their contributions to the Theatre Program, and a serious commitment to the performing arts. This is judged by their written application and by their participation in Theatre classes, onstage, and backstage.
These awards are distributed at the end of the Fall and Spring semesters, and the monetary award can range between $200 and $500 per award. Students must have completed at least one full semester at MiraCosta before they are eligible to apply for these Merit Awards, and an individual can receive a maximum of six Merit Awards during their time at MiraCosta.
Also, at the end of each school year, several special awards are voted upon by the Spotlight Board to recognize and reward students for their overall contributions to the MiraCosta Theatre
Named Awards
Many of our Merit Awards are given in honor of individuals who have made significant contributions to the MiraCosta Theatre and/or the Spotlight Circle as a way to recognize and show our gratitude for their efforts
Here are the past winners of Spotlight Circle Merit Awards and special Year End Awards.
SPRING 2025
Sophia McKenna - (Bob & Elaine Algeo Award)
James (Ethen) Menendez - (Fred Cutler Award)
Olivia Montgomery - (Denee Pescarmona Award)
Cooper Ogden - (Robert Bellfy Award)
Annabelle Ouellet - (John & Michele McCoy Award)
Cadence Rarick - (Phillip & Damaris Boland Award)
FALL 2024
Jay Brace (Phillip & Damaris Boland Award)
Jordan Galloway (John & Michele McCoy Award)
Elijah Johnson (Bob & Elaine Algeo Award)
Vivian Schroeder (Jerry & Patricia Rugg Award)
SPRING 2024
Patrick Bator (Drs. Judy & Hugh LaBounty award)
Isabella Edelmann (Marvin Read award)
Omar Estrada (Joe & Dolores Sasway award)
Jordan Galloway (Fred Cutler award)
Jane Miller (Phillip & Damaris Boland award)
T.J. Yurick (Joe & Dolores Sasway award)
FALL 2023
Shann Davis, Jr. (Patricia Rugg award)
Tyler Dean (Elaine & Bob Algeo award)
Ethen Menendez (Fred Cutler award)
Reace Pudvah (John & Michele McCoy award)
Dominique Torres (Thomas Brackett award)
Ryian James Winchester (Joe & Dolores Sasway award)
SPRING 2023
Patrick Bator (Fred Cutler award)
Grayce Britton (Drs. Judy & Hugh LaBounty award)
Fredy Gomez Cruz (Elaine & Bob Algeo award)
Mia Karvounis (Laura Cantrell award)
Paige Oberholtzer (Joe & Dolores Sasway award)
Ivan Quezada (Patricia Rugg award)
Sasway Award – Chris Sammis
Kissinger Award – Vivian Schroeder
Rookie of the Year - Aleena Hiatt
Key Player – Ryan Hartley
M.V.P. 2022-23 – Jay Brace
FALL 2022
Megan McCarthy (Fred Cutler award)
Manasseh Remy, Jr. (Joe & Dolores Sasway award)
Chris Sammis (Elaine & Bob Algeo award)
SPRING 2022
Megan McCarthy
Chris Sammis
(Awards temporarily suspended due to pandemic)
SPRING 2020
Andrew Banderas (Les & Jean Wyman award)
Kai Brown (Cathie & Larry Hatter award)
Haley Canaletti (Larry Jorgensen award)
Micaela Hecht . (Elaine & Bob Algeo award)
Bella Keeme (Judy Causey award)
Janae Vigil (Joe & Dolores Sasway award)
FALL 2019
Andrew Banderas (Hugh & Judy LaBounty award)
Haley Canaletti Joe & Dolores Sasway award)
Jack Grable (Judy Causey award)
Annabella Keeme (John & Michele McCoy award)
D.J. Maloney (Elaine & Bob Algeo award)
Jack Roberts (Jon & Sunny Allen-Romberg award)
SPRING 2019
Josef Emmenegger (Judy Causey award)
Lucas Goodman (Cathie & Larry Hatter award)
Micaela Hecht (Fred Cutler award)
Elena Hunt (Joe & Dolores Sasway award)
Annabella Keeme (Les & Jean Wyman award)
Bryan Vartanian (Marvin Read award)
FALL 2018
Alexa Emmenegger (Jon & Sunny Allen-Romberg award)
Josef Emmenegger (Joe & Dolores Sasway award)
Lucas Goodman (Elaine & Bob Algeo award)
Sawyer Henderson (Judy Causey award)
Elena Hunt (Hugh & Judy LaBounty award)
Bryan Vartanian (John & Michele McCoy award)
SPRING 2018
Elisa Alvarez (Elaine & Bob Algeo award)
Alexandra Emmenegger (Joe & Dolores Sasway award)
Josef Emmenegger (Laura Cantrell award)
Lucas Goodman (Les & Jean Wyman award)
Bryan Vartanian (Fred Cutler award)
FALL 2017
Elisa Alvarez (John & Michele McCoy award)
Aubree Bibbs (Cathie & Larry Hatter award)
Alexandra Emmenegger (Judy Causey award)
Josef Emmenegger (Hugh & Judy LaBounty award)
Sawyer Henderson (Jon & Sunny Allen-Romberg award)
Bryan Vartanian (Joe & Dolores Sasway award)
SPRING 2017
Max Dannenberg (Larry Jorgensen award)
Alexa Emmenegger (David & Rosann Drielsma award)
Sawyer Henderson (Joe & Dolores Sasway award)
Thomas Nieman (Les & Jean Wyman award)
Joseph Prete (Fred Cutler award)
Alex Smith (Elaine & Bob Algeo award)
FALL 2016
Timothy Cabal (Judy Causey award)
Josef Emmenegger (Jon & Sunny Allen-Romberg award)
Sawyer Henderson (Ted Hoehn award)
Rachael Hodge (Joe & Dolores Sasway award)
Thomas Nieman (Hugh & Judy LaBounty award)
Joseph Prete (Marvin Read award)
SPRING 2016
Timothy Cabal (David & Rosann Drielsma award)
Zachary Elliott (Fred Cutler award)
Joseph Prete (Joe & Dolores Sasway award)
Emily Scibetta (Les & Jean Wyman award)
Alex Smith (Elaine & Bob Algeo award)
Ala Tiatia (Cathie & Larry Hatter award)
Sasway Award – Ala Tiatia
Kissinger Award – Rachael Hodge
Rookie of the Year - Sawyer Henderson
Key Player – Timothy Cabal
M.V.P. 2015-16 – Carol Naegele
FALL 2015
Tim Cabal (Joe & Dolores Sasway award)
Zachary Elliott (Jon & Sunny Allen-Romberg award)
SPRING 2015
Melissa Bonilla (Laura Cantrell award)
Zachary Elliott (Joe & Dolores Sasway award)
Rachael Hodge (Judy Causey award)
Mark Patricio (Marvin Read award)
Joseph Prete (Elaine & Bob Algeo award)
Emily Scibetta (Garretson Dulin, Jr. award)
Sasway Award – Rachael Hodge
Kissinger Award – Zach Elliott
co-Key Player – Shelby Caughron & Joey Prete
co- M.V.P. 2014-15 – Carol & Don Naegele
FALL 2014
Steven Garretson (Joe & Dolores Sasway award)
Rachael Hodge (Jon & Sunny Allen-Romberg award)
Joseph Prete (Elaine & Bob Algeo award)
Griffin Satoda (Hugh & Judy LaBounty award)
Kira Stenzel (Les & Jean Wyman award)
Ala Tiatia (David & Rosann Drielsma award)
SPRING 2014
Timothy Cabal (Elaine & Bob Algeo award)
Zachary Elliott (Laura Cantrell award)
Rachael Hodge (David & Rosann Drielsma award)
Christopher Lynch (Les & Jean Wyman award)
Courtney Park (Joe & Dolores Sasway award)
Emily Scibetta (Jon & Sunny Allen-Romberg award)
Zedrick Villegas-Evans (Marvin Read award)
Rookie of the Year – Rachael Hodge
Sasway Award – Tim Cabal
Kissinger Award – Kayti Bulfinch
Key Player – Steve Garretson
M.V.P. 2013-14 – Zach Elliott
FALL 2013
Stevie Allen (Laura Cantrell award)
Kaitlin Bulfinch (Jon & Sunny Allen-Romberg award)
Timothy Cabal (Audrey McComas award)
Christine Dillard (Elaine & Bob Algeo award)
Zachary Elliott (Les & Jean Wyman award)
Marshall Elstad (David & Rosann Drielsma award)
Patricia Fa'asua (Joe & Dolores Sasway award)
Kinsey McCabe (Larry Jorgensen award)
Courtney Park (Judy & Hugh LaBounty award)
Mark Patricio (Marvin Read award)
Bryan Taylor (Jack & Judy Causey award)
Zedrick Villegas-Evans (Jere & Joyce Oren award)
SPRING 2013
Emerald Baker (Jon & Sunny Allen-Romberg award)
Zachary Elliott (David & Rosann Drielsma award)
Courtney Park (Elaine & Bob Algeo award)
Spencer Rodman (Joe & Dolores Sasway award)
Rookie of the Year - Joshua Greenfield
Rookie of the Year - Ala Tia Tia
Key Player - Eden Michel
Most Valuable Player 2012-13 - Patricia Fa'asua
Extraordinary Achievement - Hannah Dohrer
FALL 2012
Emerald Baker (Mary & RIchard Benard award)
Kayti Bulfinch (Jon & Sunny Allen-Romberg award)
Christine Dillard (Hugh & Judy LaBounty award)
Kelsey Huebscher (Laura Cantrell award)
John Peter Konopak (Larry Jorgensen award)
Eden Michel (Jack & Judy Causey award)
Cassidy Mitchell (Joe & Dolores Sasway award)
Courtney Park (Julie Ames award)
Mark Patricio (Marvin Read award)
Spencer Rodman (David & Rosann Drielsma award)
Miranda Ronnow (Elaine & Bob Algeo award)
SPRING 2012
Salisha Carr (Jon & Sunny Allen-Romberg award)
Alex Contreras (Larry Jorgensen award)
Kelsey Huebscher (Audrey McComas award)
Meg Johnson (Joe & Dolores Sasway award)
John Peter Konopak (Elaine & Bob Algeo award)
Daniel Liuag (David & Rosann Drielsma award)
Jason Marks (Jack & Judy Causey award)
Kelsey McNeilly (Hugh & Judy LaBounty award)
Mark Patricio (Jim & Karen Austin award)
Spencer Rodman (Marvin Read award)
Zed Villegas (Laura Cantrell award)
Rookie of the Year - Spencer Rodman
Key Player - Alex Contreras
Most Valuable Player 2012 - Kayti Bulfinch
"Tom Brault Scholarship" for Actors Academy - Spencer Rodman
FALL 2011
Christopher Braden (Larry Jorgensen award)
Kaitlin Bulfinch (Jack & Judy Causey award)
Carly Dellinger (Elaine & Bob Algeo award)
Meg Johnson (Audrey McComas award)
Richard Johnson (Marvin Read award)
John Peter Konopak
Daniel Liuag
Jason Marks (Laura Cantrell award)
Eden Michel (David & Rosann Drielsma award)
Cassidy Mitchell (Jon & Sunny Allen-Romberg award)
Aidan Moon (Hugh & Judy LaBounty award)
Spencer Rodman
Sassan Saffari (Joe & Dolores Sasway award)
SPRING 2011
Christopher Braden (Jack & Judy Causey award)
Kaytlin Bulfinch (Elaine & Bob Algeo award)
Salisha Carr (Jon & Sunny Allen-Romberg award)
Alex Contreras (Larry Jorgensen award)
Richard Johnson (Joe & Dolores Sasway award)
Cassidy Mitchell (Duane & Rosalie Cassidy award)
Brent Perkins (Laura Cantrell award)
Sassan Saffari (Marvin Read award)
Rookie of the Year – Salisha Carr
Key Player – Johanna Taylor
Most Valuable Player 2010-11 – Richard Johnson
Extraordinary Achievement – Sassan Saffari
FALL 2010
Kayti Bulfinch (Laura Cantrell award)
Salisha Carr (Marvin Read award)
Carly Dellinger (Duane & Rosalie Cassidy award)
Ally Higgins (Jon & Sunny Allen-Romberg award)
Ryan Kidd (Elaine & Bob Algeo award
Cassidy Mitchell (Jack & Judy Causey award)
Sassan Saffari (Joe Sasway award)
SPRING 2010
Carly Dellinger (Joe Sasway award)
Ally Higgins (Larry Jorgensen award)
Richard Johnson (Duane & Rosalie Cassidy award)
Ryan Kidd (Laura Cantrell award)
Anyelid Meneses (Marvin Read award)
Sassan Saffari (Jon & Sunny Allen-Romberg award)
Matt Sayre (Emily Scurlock award)
Karen Villareal (Audrey McComas award)
Rookie of the Year – Carly Dellinger
Key Player – Amanda Dane
Most Valuable “Player” 2009-10 – Sassan Saffari
Extraordinary Achievement – Anyelid Meneses
FALL 2009
Aimee Burdette (Betty Ann Robinson award)
Carly Dellinger (Laura Cantrell award)
Rachel Guerrero (Marvin Read award)
Ally Higgins (Audrey McComas award)
Richard Johnson (Joe Sasway award)
Jamie Leodones (Emily Scurlock award)
Brianna McClure (Larry Jorgensen award)
Michael Montano
Anthony Phifer (Jon & Sunny Allen-Romberg award)
Sassan Saffari (Duane & Rosalie Cassidy award)
SPRING 2009
Rachel Guerrero (Audrey McComas award)
Justin Jorgensen (Laura Cantrell award)
Jamie Leodones (Emily Scurlock award)
Anyelid Meneses (Marvin Read award)
Hayley Palmer (Jon & Sunny Allen-Romberg award)
Anthony Phifer (Larry Jorgensen award)
Sassan Saffari (Betty Ann Robinson award)
Sam Sherman (Joe Sasway award)
Tech Star – Sam Sherman
Rookie of the Year – Anthony Phifer
Key Player – Justin Jorgensen
Co-Most Valuable “Player” 2008-09 – Hayley Palmer & Sassan Saffari
FALL 2008
Aimee Burdette (Laura Cantrell award)
Justin Jorgensen (Emily Scurlock award)
Jamie Leodones (Larry Jorgensen award)
Hayley Palmer (Jon & Sunny Allen-Romberg award)
Mary Relator (Betty Ann Robinson award)
Karen Villareal (Audrey McComas award)
SPRING 2008
Carlos Darze (Betty Ann Robinson award)
Justin Jorgensen (Emily Scurlock award)
Jamie Leodones (Larry Jorgensen award)
Anyelid Meneses (Jon & Sunny Allen-Romberg award)
Hayley Palmer (Laura Cantrell award)
“Most Valuable ‘Player’ for 2007-08” to Sam Sherman
“Key Player” Award to Gerilyn Brault
FALL 2007
Gerilyn Brault (Betty Ann Robinson award)
Anyelid Meneses (Jon & Sunny Allen-Romberg award)
Hayley Palmer (Emily Scurlock award)
Anna Valendez (Laura Cantrell award)
SPRING 2007
Gerilyn Brault (Laura Cantrell award)
Gedaly Gubarek (Emily Scurlock award)
Jamie Leodones (Larry Jorgensen award)
Anyelid Meneses (Jon & Sunny Allen Romberg award)
Adam Oliveras (Betty Ann Robinson award)
Hayley Palmer (Audrey McComas award).
Jessi Walters
“Most Valuable ‘Player’ for 2006-07” to Brooke Baldwin.
FALL 2006
Gerilyn Brault
Jesse Brodie
Juan Castaneda-Gonzalez
Gedaly Gubarek
Wilbert Lee Kalua
Jamie Leodones
Gabriel Nunez
Jessica Walters
SPRING 2006
Brooke Baldwin
Amanda Burk
Theresa Elliott
Gedaly Gubarek
Jamie Leodones
Anyelid Meneses
Maxwell Paul Myers
Danielle Payton
Katherine. Sperling
Michelle Stann
“Extraordinary Achievement Award” to Sarah Kelley
For winning “Outstanding Stage Manager”at KC/ACTF Regional Festival
“Most Valuable ‘Player’ for 2005-06” to Juan Castaneda-Gonzalez
FALL 2005
Brooke Baldwin
Amanda Burk
Juan Castaneda-Gonzales
Theresa Elliott
Sarah Kelley
Maxwell Paul Myers
Katherine Sperling
SPRING 2005
Theresa Elliott
Eric Firdman
Jamie Leodones
Aurora RuPert
Katherine Sperling
Amethyst Sunshine-Hill
Matthew Thomas Tucker
(Records for 2002 – 2004 are temporarily unavailable)
FALL 2001
Beatrice Arthur
Jamie Ball
Scott Derrell
Elizabeth Garcia
Taylor Garrett
Joshua Johnson
Sandi Monroe
Linda Sanders
SPRING 2001
Toni Cochrane
Scott Derrell
Turi Hong
Kalina Justice
Mercedes Murillo
Taylor Garrett
FALL 2000
David Chapman
Toni Cochrane
Aaron Kissinger
Jacob Skelly
James Smith
Mary Elise White
SPRING 2000
Gregory Bailey
Toni Cochrane
Raven Dunn
Sky Heussenstamm
Aaron Kissinger
Jacob Skelly
Keith Stevens
Mary White
FALL 1999
Greg Bailey
Aaron Kissinger
Pilar DeNault
David Chapman
Keith Stevens
Raven Dunn
John Aviles
Toni Harrison
Omid Hirsa
Melissa Redmond
SPRING 1999
Raven Dunn
Toni Harrison
Aaron Kissinger
Andrew Klicka
Brooke Rucker
Arnold Smith
Kevin Thompson
FALL 1998
Raven Dunn
Sylvie Hitchcock
]Andrew Klicka
Aaron Kissinger
Andrew Pounds
Abelardo Rodriguez
Brooke Rucker
SPRING 1998
Jessica Blumberg
Clare Solly
FALL 1997
Clayton Bailey
Andrew Ciriaco
Brian Maples
Melissa Redmond
James Smith
Sherry Whitehill
SPRING 1997
Davin Anderson
Paul Brown
Mercedes Casey
FALL 1996
Pamela Crawford
Nate Larson
Lee Lobaugh
Chrystal Nowakowski]
Teahanane Rickard
SPRING 1996
Gregory Martinez
Bryan West
FALL 1995
Daniel Cavanaugh
Melissa Redmond
Jonathan Keffer
SPRING 1995
Heather Badillo
Pamela Crawford
Jonathan Keffer
Lee LoBaugh
Erin Stephenson
FALL 1994
Heather Badillo
Dan Farias
Greg Harrison
Jonathan Keffer
SPRING 1994
Dave Cochran
Jason Dreier
Kim Hogan
Kathleen Kenna
Erin Stephenson
FALL 1993
Christopher Axtell
Heather Badillo
Bernadette Beauchamp
Seth Blumberg
Daniel Farias
Sally Guehl
Glen E. Motil
J.C. Rede
SPRING 1993
Cynthia Alamillo
Mike Bird
Derek Collard
Ricky Delorey
Sally Guehl
Amy Warrant
William R. Holland
Kirsten Page
J.C. Rede
Jaime Trevizo
FALL 1992
Christian Carriger
Paul Chirco
Rebecca Eisenhour
Kat Phoenix
Lon Sierra
Phillip Stafford
Holly Sterling
Matt Thompson
FALL 1991
Jessica Courter
Colin Crain
Lisa Hall
Michael Holliday
Roman Jimenez
Elisabeth Loeffler
Paul Nelson
Spring Roney
Matt Thompson
SPRING 1990
Michael Beck
Tammy Carr
Alan Dye
Hadia Haaj
Lisa Hall
Robert Hartman
Michelle Martini
Tamara Norton
Kathleen Rose
Kathy Rowland
Jeff Stafford
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