STO Application


​ All thespians interested in becoming STO’s and helping to lead Kansas Thespians and the Kansas Thespian Festival please read the above informational packet.

Applications Due December 1
Questions about STO's or Student State board can be directed to sto@kansasthespians.com

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 with advocacy of both Kansas Thespians and the Festival as well planning, managing, and hosting of the state festival during their year(s) of service.  STO’s teach and lead at least one and possibly two workshops, normally in leadership and advocacy while at the festival.  As the student representative, the STO 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.
Who can be an STO?
Any sophomore or junior who is an inducted Thespian and in good standing with their troupe and their school 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.  They must also attend the Kansas Thespian Festival in order to be appointed.
 What is the difference between Student State Board and Student Thespian Officers?
STOs are the leadership of the Student State Board (SSB). SSB members represent their school in planning and working for the state festival. STOs are members of the SSB with additional responsibilities and are the student connection to the Adult State Board (ASB).
How many students become an STO?
Kansas Thespians has a maximum five member STO board.  The board consists of a Chairperson, two or three at-large members, and one vice chair-person.  The Vice Chair will serve for two years (during their Junior and Senior years) and will become the Chairperson for their second year of service.  The Vice-Chair Position and the at-large positions will be appointed at the festival.  The Vice Chairman must be a sophomore at the time of appointment, the three at-large positions can be either juniors or sophomores at the time of appointment.  A sophomore that is placed in an at-large position must understand that at-large positions are appointed on a yearly basis only, and serve another term as an STO, they would have to reapply. If a sophomore is not elected a vice-chair will be selected from among the four At-Large members.  In this case they would only serve for one year.
How do I become 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.
  • STO Candidates must be an inducted Thespian 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.
    • 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.
      • 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 counts as one of the four students.
      • 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.
    • 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 tables. 
      • Jobs and responsibilities will be posted to GroupMe for sign up.
      • STO candidates may be asked to work additional sessions. 
  • 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.
  • Complete the STO Application process. 

What is the Application Process?
  • BY DECEMBER 1st
  • 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 January 1.
  • 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.
  • 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 will be provided.
      • Videos will need to be uploaded to Google Drive and shared with sto@kansasthespians.org
    • Submit a headshot of yourself
      • Should look like you
      • Should be submitted by email or shared in google drive to sto@kansasthespians.com
  • 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. 
  • 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.
  • Newly elected STO’s will be notified around lunch on Saturday of festival and will be announced during the awards and honors portion at the end of the festival weekend.
 
Who decides who will become a STO?
STO’s are elected on a point based system.
  • The Kickoff Meeting, Advocacy & Leadership workshops, service as part of the SSB are 5% of the total
  • The current STO and ITO vote is 40%
  • The EdTA representative and STO Advisors vote is 30%
  • Troupe Directors/ASB vote is 25%. 
The sophomore with the highest number of points will automatically be elected as vice chair. The remaining 3 at large positions will be selected from the remaining candidates based on points received.
I am now an STO!  What do I have to do? 
  • Prepare positives and negatives regarding the festival and submit them to the STO Advisors.  
    • 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. 
  • Be available for video conference at some point during the spring semester.
  • Attend the International Thespian Festival in June.
    • If your school/troupe is not attending, you will need to attend with another Kansas school.  
      • Contact the STO Advisors for help with this if needed.
      • Most troupe register for ITF between February 1 and March 1 please keep this in mind if you will need a host troupe
    • If payment for your festival is going to be an issue please reach out to the STO advisors as soon as you can.
    • It is required to take part in the leadership class and workshops offered throughout the festival.
      • This does take some of your workshop time at ITF - please keep that in mind.  
      • This is also recommended to those who were not selected as STO’s this year but would like to try again next year. 
      • STOs are encouraged to look into running for ITO.  However, this is NOT a requirement! 
      • The cost for the leadership workshop will be paid by Kansas Thespians.  If there is an issue please contact the STO advisors.
    •  There will also be required planning meetings held during ITF that you will have to attend as well.
  • 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 we will also accept a parent.
  •  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
  • 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 to the other STO and STO advisors. 
      • If there are workshops you would like to attend, please communicate this to the other STO and Advisors.
  • The final event of the STO is Kansas Thespians Theatre Advocacy day in Topeka in March after their festival of service.
  • If outgoing STO are attending ITF following their year of service they may be called on to assist the new STO’s if needed.
    • This is not required or payed for in any way by Kansas Thespians.
  • 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
  • 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.
 All STO’s will be required to sign a contract of participation. If any rules outlined by the contract are not followed, the STO may be relieved of their position.

​
Picture2019 STO's


Past Kansas International Thespian Officers
​
​2008-2009 Chelsi Deturk – From Troupe 639 Salina Central HS
2016-2017 Ryan Pangracs – Troupe 287 Leavenworth HS
2018- 2019 – Emily Martin – ITO Chair - Troupe 3310 Olathe North HS
2018 – 2019 – Audrey Burgoon – Troupe 639 Salina Central HS
2019-2020 – Anna Hastings – ITO Chair – Troupe 5006 Olathe South HS
2019-2020 – Spencer Angell – Troupe 639 Salina Central HS
2020-2021 – Spencer Angell – Troupe 639 Salina Central HS