Photo taken by Muskegon Frauenthal
West Michigan Student Showcase, the Process and the Result
March 18, 2025
Creative opportunities are throughout all of Michigan, and the West Michigan Student Showcase is just one of the many options that West Michigan has to offer. This annual celebration has been around for 43 years, and showcases close to 200 students from 20 different school districts throughout Muskegon, Ottawa, Oceana, Newago, and Mason Counties.
In West Michigan high schools, students can be chosen for their talent in the competitive areas of Digital Media Arts, Literary Arts, Performing Arts, and Visual Arts. Over $10,000 in awards are given to the competitive categories for first, second, and third place, in addition to a showstopper award given in the Performing Arts.
The Showcase performance at the Frauenthal Theater has an arrival time by 6:00 pm. The date of the event is March 19, 2025. The price of tickets for Student Showcase is 7.00 for a student and 10.00 for an adult.
photo taken by Muskegon Frauenthal Theater
Mrs. Studier, a Reeths-Puffer AP Language and Composition teacher, is in charge of organizing the selection for the Literary Arts nominee. Mrs.Studier expressed, “submitting your work with the chance of possibly being chosen is a great experience, especially if one day you want to publish your work.” She also stated, “I only get about 9 submissions and mostly fiction pieces.”
Last year a Literary Arts nominee got 3rd Place from Reeths-Puffer. Elana Weiden, a junior at the time, wrote a fantasy short story about a magical bookstore. “It was a good experience for me. It was fun to meet other young authors and go to an event that was only for the arts,” explained Weiden. “I am very glad that this opportunity made me a published author because I want people to be able to read and enjoy my story.”
Weiden further explains that students hesitant to participate should, “try it anyway. It can be hard to put yourself out there, but there is no good reason to miss out on the chance of being published (or bringing attention to your art) and winning a cash prize.”
A Reeths-Puffer junior this year, named Maya VandenBosch, submitted an artwork for the Visual Arts category. “I chose to submit my painting because I enjoyed working hard on this painting and I’m proud of it. Submitting it to Showcase is just another plus,” VandenBosch explains. “I believe it is a great opportunity to experience submitting something and having the possibility to be chosen.”
Photo taken by Maya VandenBosch
Showcase is an experience worth living. VandenBosch states, “every year of high school I have submitted a story for Showcase. I have improved each year with my writing abilities. Having opportunities like Student Showcase has helped me grow as a writer.”
After weeks of student-entries, selections have been finalized and nominees are now waiting until the big day. Seniors Lauren Matz and Charles Jones have been selected as the performance duo, and Lauren Burkett has been selected as the Visual Arts representative.
Burkett states, “I really enjoy making portraits because I feel like they create an intimacy between the piece and viewer; it’s an expression frozen in time. I feel most in control of graphite as a medium and that it may be where I am most successful in creating art.” She then adds, “I knew I wanted to do a graphite portrait as my Showcase piece, and after a lot of brainstorming about who’s face to draw, I decided to create my first real self-portrait and get to work. I worked on the portrait from mid October to late December.”
She then shares how she is excited to be part of Showcase. “I’m very excited to be a part of something like Showcase, and I am very grateful to have been chosen as a nominee. The support and encouragement from my family, friends, teachers etc. and knowing there are people who are going to show up for me is the greatest part. It is nerve wracking but also very exciting to put my art on such a large display. I’m looking forward to seeing all of the other nominees’ work, hopefully meeting some of them, and seeing the other talents of our school.”
She shares advice to others who want to submit their art, “to anyone wanting to submit their art, I would suggest gaining confidence, taking risks, and to remember that your art matters. Take your favorite medium and push its limits. Do your best to stay motivated when the process gets long and you run out of steam, and seek encouragement when you have to from those who support you.”
Photo taken by Craig Olson
Lauren Matz also shares some advice and the path she took to achieve being a showcase Nominee, “I would say to work hard and believe in yourself! You can do anything that you set your mind to. I have been heavily involved in the choir program for many years. Singing is one of my passions, and I always work as hard as I can in order to improve my craft. I have also taken private vocal lessons to further my knowledge in music and vocal technique.”She shares that she and Charles “will be performing ‘Take Me or Leave Me’ from Rent the musical. I am beyond grateful to have this opportunity to represent Reeths-Puffer in this category!”
In addition to the duo performance, RPHS will also have a group performance that includes Jazz musicians Blake Miller, Asher Kolmus, Carter Wagbo, Jamie Neel, Levi Kolmus, Aidan Little, Nick Clemens, Ella Jourden, Kiron Koenig, Aidan Mortz, Jackson Flora, Parker Vanderwall, Sunyoon Kim, Eric Hussey, and Kason Scheel. With so many amazing performers, it promises to be a wonderful show, and RPHS hopes to bring home awards again this year.
Photo from Musical theatre international
Written by Maya VandenBosch