STO Application
Click Here to see Bios of the Current STOs
What is an STO? STO stands for State Thespian Officer.
- The STOs are the student leaders and student representatives for Kansas Thespians. It is their job to represent Kansas Thespians, the member troupes, student thespians, and adult leadership.
- They are the student leadership who help planning, managing, and hosting the state festival
- STO’s are also leading student advocates of both Kansas Thespians and the festival.
- STO’s teach and lead at least one and possibly two workshops during the festival
- Normally the workshops are on leadership and advocacy.
- Normally the workshops are on leadership and advocacy.
- The STOs will also serve as the communication link between the students and the adult state board; therefore, it is their job to serve as an advocate for the students.
- Any sophomore or junior who is an inducted Thespian, in good standing with their troupe and their school, and attends the Kansas Thespian Festival is eligible to apply. The student must have a desire to be a strong leader and be prepared to work for the good of Kansas Thespians.
- STOs are the leadership of the Student State Board (SSB).
- SSB members represent their school in planning and working for the state festival.
- STOs and STO candidates are members of the SSB with additional leadership responsibilities.
- STOs and STO candidates are members of the SSB with additional leadership responsibilities.
- STO’s are the student connection to the Adult State Board (ASB).
- Six students maximum are elected to the Kansas Thespians STO board. The board consists of a Chairperson, two to four at-large members, and one vice chair-person.
- The Vice Chair must be a sophomore at the time of appointment, and will serve for two years (during their Junior and Senior years) and will become the Chairperson for their second year of service.
- If a sophomore is not appointed during the application process then a vice-chair will be selected from among the At-Large members after placement of those members. In this case they would only serve for one festival or year.
- If a sophomore is not appointed during the application process then a vice-chair will be selected from among the At-Large members after placement of those members. In this case they would only serve for one festival or year.
- The At-Large positions can be either juniors or sophomores at the time of appointment.
- At-Large positions are appointed on a yearly basis. This means a sophomore placed in an at large position would have to reapply for a second year as an STO.
- At-Large positions are appointed on a yearly basis. This means a sophomore placed in an at large position would have to reapply for a second year as an STO.
- Express your interest to your troupe director. You must have their recommendation.
- Troupes can have two students apply for STO.
- STO Candidates must be either a sophomore or junior in the year applying.
- Only one member of a troupe can be appointed to the STO board.
- The home troupe of the current Vice-Chair cannot have an STO applicant.
- The placement of the Vice-Chair takes precedence over that of an At-Large Member.
- The placement of the Vice-Chair takes precedence over that of an At-Large Member.
- STO Candidates must be either a sophomore or junior in the year applying.
- Troupes can have two students apply for STO.
- STO Candidates must be an inducted Thespian through ITS/EDTA before applying.
- STO Candidates should have a GPA of at least 3.0 before applying.
- STO Candidates must be a part of the SSB for the festival in which they are applying.
- Be a member of the SSB GroupMe in good standing with a signed contract.
- SSB Groupme Contract (https://forms.gle/KD2gaVj6nRtTkPF4A)
- SSB Groupme Contract (https://forms.gle/KD2gaVj6nRtTkPF4A)
- Attend the August Festival Kickoff Meeting
- Students attending Kickoff should be with their troupe director.
- If your troupe director isn’t available you will need to have a parent attend and can only attend with written permission of your troupe director.
- If your troupe director isn’t available you will need to have a parent attend and can only attend with written permission of your troupe director.
- Troupes are allowed to bring a total of four students to the kick off.
- Two official student state board members and two alternates
- The two alternates are allowed to run for STO
- A current STO does not count towards a Schools SSB Members.
- Two official student state board members and two alternates
- If you are unable to attend and would still like to run for STO you must contact the STO Advisors at sto@kansasthespians.com.
- This email should include your name, phone number, and reason for missing.
- This email should include your name, phone number, and reason for missing.
- Students attending Kickoff should be with their troupe director.
- Must serve as a part of the SSB during the festival including working a variety of jobs.
- Jobs include thespy room manager, festival host for students and presenters, working the STO table, helping to sell ducks, ushering for shows, and more.
- Jobs and responsibilities will be posted to GroupMe for sign up.
- STO candidates may be asked to work additional sessions.
- Jobs include thespy room manager, festival host for students and presenters, working the STO table, helping to sell ducks, ushering for shows, and more.
- Be a member of the SSB GroupMe in good standing with a signed contract.
- Attend the Advocacy Workshop and the Leadership Workshop presented by the current STO and ITO during the Festival.
- If you are unable to attend the workshop please let the STO advisors know as soon as possible.
- If you are unable to attend the workshop please let the STO advisors know as soon as possible.
- Complete the STO Application process that is posted below.
- ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS ARE DUE ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 1st
- Fill out an application and questions
- Read and complete the contract by getting all necessary signatures.
- Fill out an application and questions
- The current STO’s, STO Advisors, and possibly other members of the ASB will read the applications and conduct phone or video conference interviews with the applicants. All Interviews will happen on or before December 17th.
- After interviews, applicants will be narrowed down to a group of 8ish STO candidates.
- The STO Candidates will be announced by email and in the SSB GroupMe.
- Applicants who are not moved on to STO Candidate are still a part of the SSB and expected to continue to serve in that capacity.
- The STO Candidates will be announced by email and in the SSB GroupMe.
- Before arriving at the festival
- Record a video of yourself giving a speech about you and why you are a good fit to be an STO.
- Should not exceed 1 minute.
- This is NOT a campaign video.
- Topic ideas and questions can be provided.
- Videos will need to be uploaded to Google Drive and shared with sto@kansasthespians.org
- sto@kansasthespians.com needs to be given edit access.
- sto@kansasthespians.com needs to be given edit access.
- Should not exceed 1 minute.
- Submit a headshot of yourself
- Should look like you.
- Should be submitted by email or shared in google drive to sto@kansasthespians.com
- Should look like you.
- Submit a Short Bio about yourself.
- This should be slightly longer than a normal program/playbill bio but should not be long
- This should be slightly longer than a normal program/playbill bio but should not be long
- Record a video of yourself giving a speech about you and why you are a good fit to be an STO.
- STO candidates will continue to serve as a part of the SSB and will take on the following responsibilities.
- Wear an STO candidate button.
- Fill in gaps in responsibilities not filled by other members of the SSB.
- Serve for a period of time (about 90 minutes) at one of the STO tables during the festival.
- Attend the workshop sessions on Advocacy and Leadership offered by the ITO and STO.
- There is normally one workshop offered in both categories. It is recommended that you attend both but only one is required.
- Conflicts with attending these workshops should be addressed to the STO Advisors.
- There is normally one workshop offered in both categories. It is recommended that you attend both but only one is required.
- Wear an STO candidate button.
- The STO’s, ITO, EdTA representative, STO Advisors, Troupe Directors, and ASB will all vote.
- Consider this process a long interview or audition with a practical aspect, rather than as an election.
- You are NOT campaigning for the position but are interviewing for the position throughout the process and festival.
- You are NOT campaigning for the position but are interviewing for the position throughout the process and festival.
- Newly elected STO’s will be notified around lunch on Saturday of festival and/or will be announced during the awards and honors portion at the end of the festival weekend.
- STO’s are appointed on a point based system.
- The Festival Kickoff Meeting, Advocacy & Leadership workshops, and service as part of the SSB are counted as 5% of the total points
- The current STO and ITO vote is 40% of the total points
- The EdTA representative and STO Advisors vote is 30% of the total points
- Troupe Directors/ASB vote is 25% of the total points
- The Festival Kickoff Meeting, Advocacy & Leadership workshops, and service as part of the SSB are counted as 5% of the total points
- The sophomore with the highest number of points will automatically be elected as vice chair. The remaining at large positions will be selected from the remaining candidates based on points received.
- Prepare positives and negatives regarding the festival and submit them to the STO Advisors.
- This should be submitted by February 1.
- This should be submitted by February 1.
- Attend the Kansas Theatre Advocacy Day in Topeka. This day is always in March as a part of Theatre in our Schools month. The official date will be announced during the Festival.
- If your troupe is not attending you will need a parent or sponsor troupe to attend. Contact the STO advisors if this is an issue.
- If your troupe is not attending you will need a parent or sponsor troupe to attend. Contact the STO advisors if this is an issue.
- Be available for video conference at some point during the spring semester.
- Attend the STO planning retreat in June or July.
- This will be a two day, one night event. We will start at noon on Day 1 and will conclude early afternoon Day 2.
- This is a full planning meeting. We will develop theme, logo design, workshops and more during this retreat.
- If attendance is an issue contact the STO Advisors ASAP.
- If attendance is an issue contact the STO Advisors ASAP.
- All costs for the retreat itself will be taken care of.
- You will need to provide your own transportation to this event and any meals to or from are your responsibility.
- You will need to provide your own transportation to this event and any meals to or from are your responsibility.
- This will be a two day, one night event. We will start at noon on Day 1 and will conclude early afternoon Day 2.
- It is recommended that STO’s attend ITF, but it is not required.
- If you need assistance, advocacy help and paperwork can be provided to help talk to both your school and district about assistance.
- STOs are encouraged to look into running for ITO. However, this is NOT a requirement!
- If you attend ITF it is recommended that you attend any/all of the ITO/STO Events!
- STOs are encouraged to look into running for ITO. However, this is NOT a requirement!
- If you need assistance, advocacy help and paperwork can be provided to help talk to both your school and district about assistance.
- Attend the festival kick off meeting held normally on the third week of August.
- This is required for STOs.
- Transportation is your responsibility and you must have an adult with you.
- Kansas Thespians would prefer that this be your troupe director, but will also accept a parent.
- Kansas Thespians would prefer that this be your troupe director, but will also accept a parent.
- This is required for STOs.
- Assist with the planning of the Festival.
- Stay in constant communication with fellow STOs, the SSB, the students and troupes under you, the ASB, Chapter Directors, and the STO advisors.
- This can be done through email, phone, social media, and text.
- There will also be a separate STO GroupMe that will be used to communicate with the other STO and STO advisors.
- There will also be an SSB GroupMe that can be used to facilitate communication between STO and SSB.
- This can be done through email, phone, social media, and text.
- Attend Kansas Thespian Festival the year of service. You will attend this festival for free, but you are expected to be a leader and work for the majority of the festival.
- STO are allowed to participate in Festival activities and are encouraged to audition and submit an I.E.
- Please communicate the ways you are participating including workshops you wish to attend to the other STOs and STO advisors.
- Please communicate the ways you are participating including workshops you wish to attend to the other STOs and STO advisors.
- STO are allowed to participate in Festival activities and are encouraged to audition and submit an I.E.
- The final event of the STO is Kansas Thespians Theatre Advocacy day in Topeka in March after their festival of service.
- STO’s must be able to meet deadlines, make sure the groups under them are meeting deadlines, and have good time management and communications skills.
- STO’s must be proactive and responsible.
- STO’s will be encouraged to travel to surrounding schools to see shows and support the Thespian Troupes close to them.
- This is highly encouraged, but not required, as a way to increase support and build comradery amongst Kansas Thespian Troupes
- This is highly encouraged, but not required, as a way to increase support and build comradery amongst Kansas Thespian Troupes
- STO’s must serve as an example of the ideal Thespian.
- The Vice-Chair will repeat as an STO for the following year serving as Chair-Person the second year.
- The Vice-Chair must be a sophomore in the year they are selected.
- The Vice-Chair will need to fill out an application and meet with the STO Advisors and possibly chapter director to be able to continue as Chair-Person.
- Junior at-large STO members that wish to be an STO again the following year, must re-run.
- The Vice-Chair must be a sophomore in the year they are selected.