First Place

‘Iolani School’s Lainey Hicks is the latest first-place recipient of the 2025 Hawai‘i Thespians Scholarship. Ms. Hicks was most recently seen as Betty Hayne’s in White Christmas (DHT) and as a Bowery Beauty and Katherine understudy for Disney’s Newsies (IABK). Her other community theatre credits include, ensemble for Tootsie, Kiss Me Kate and Mamma Mia! For ‘Iolani, Ms. Hicks has played Mrs. Banks in Mary Poppins, Rapunzel in Into the Woods, Belle in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, JR., Lady Larkin in Once Upon a Matress. She is also an athlete on the water polo and bowling teams for ‘Iolani.

Congratulations, Lainey!

Second Place

Mid-Pacific Institute's Alexia Roberts was recognized as the second-place recipient of the Hawai'i Thespians scholarship. Alexia is a senior Pueo at Mid-Pacific and serves as the treasurer of Mid-Pacific’s Thespian Troupe #3492. She is an active member of the MPSA Theatre Certificate and IB programs. Her recent stage credits include Cady Heron in Mean Girls, Grandma Addams in The Addams Family, Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and The Mute in The Fantasticks. Outside of theatre, she is a varsity swimmer and water polo player. Alexia will be a freshman at Duke University this fall and will study science and theatre. 

First Place
Alana Clayson, Punahou School

Alana Clayson is an award-winning senior and current president of the Punahou Thespian Troupe #1456. Since playing the role of Dragon in Shrek, Jr. in middle school, Clayson has gone on to play Charon in The Lightning Thief, Diana in Something Latin, Violet in August: Osage County, Vanessa in In the Heights and Susan in tick, tick… Boom! In the community, Clayson starred as Elsa in Frozen, Jr. (Mo‘olelo Studios) and was recently cast to play Zoe in Dear Evan Hansen (Manoa Valley Theatre). She is the recipient of the Punahou School Excellence Award in Technical Theatre (2022), the Punahou School Excellence Award in Acting (2022, 2023) She is in also the National Honor Society and a recipient of the John F. Fox Achievement Award for excellence in academics and the arts at Punahou (2022).

Ellis Honma, ‘Iolani School
Ellis Honma is a senior at ‘Iolani School and a member of the International Thespian Society Troupe #7205. Taking classes in the arts since the 6th grade, she has performed in multiple plays and musicals with ‘Iolani Dramatic Players throughout her high school years. She plans to pursue musical theater as a major in college. 

Zaden Jay Brub,  Mililani High School

Zaden Jay Brub is a senior and member of Mililani High School's Central Theatre Arts Academy and International Thespian Troupe #3791. Up next for Brub and the Mililani Trojans is Hairspray.

Congratulations to Alexis Bugarin! The Kapolei High School senior is this year's recipient of the Hawai‘i Thespians Scholarship. This scholarship honors excellence in students who plan on pursuing theatre in college. Awarded by the Educational Theatre Association and the Hawai‘i Thespians at this year's annual state theatre festival, the judges praised Bugarin's professionalism and talent.

A member of International Thespian Society Troupe 6906, Bugarin has been part of the theater community since the age of 7 performing with various theater companies. Performing Arts Center Kapolei, Diamond Head Theatre, Castle Performing Arts Center, and Playbuilders of Hawai'i  just to name a few.  She also performed as a solo artist all over our island.  Bugarin plans to continue to further her education in musical theatre.  

At the festival, she performed Alexandra’s monologue from The Little Foxes by Lillian Hellman and sang "Maybe This Time" by Fred Ebb and John Kander from the musical, Cabaret. 

Congratulations to Alexis and best wishes for all her future endeavors!

Congratulations to Nathaniel Ryan-Kern! Ryan-Kern is this year's recipient of the UH Mānoa Glenn Cannon Memorial Scholarship, presented by the annual state Hawai'i Thespians Festival. He is a senior at Punahou school and co-president of Punahou’s International Thespian Troupe 1456. He has performed with various performing arts companies across the island, finding his love for theatre through Waialae Performing Arts in middle school and performing with Punahou Theatre, Performing Arts Company of Kapolei and Diamond Head Theatre throughout high school.

This Ryan-Kern auditioned for this award using a classical comedic monologue from A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare performing the role of Bottom followed by a gritty and sorrowful piece from Defender of the Faith by Stuart Carolan. 

Congratulations, Nathaniel!