Kylee Collins, a senior at Danvers High School, recently won the Massachusetts Heart of the Arts award at the Performing Arts Banquet. She is the first recipient from the North Shore, and one of over 1,100 students who were nominated. She was also a finalist for the National Heart of the Arts award.
Both the state and national awards are granted by the National Federation of High School Associations (NFHS). The Heart of the Arts award began in 2014 to reward students who “…exemplify the ideals of the positive heart of the arts and represent the core mission of education-based activities,” according to their website. Only high schools which are members of an NFHS association are permitted to submit a nominee.
Kylee is most notably a member of the DHS Color Guard, but has numerous other involvements in DHS arts programs including choir, theatre, and band, to name a few. In an interview with Danvers Patch, Principal Alan Strauss called her “the central artery through which our creative energy flows,” crediting her for her contributions to the school’s artistic environment.
In an interview with The Flying Onion last Tuesday, Collins illuminated her plans to attend Salem State University for a nursing degree. However, she still hopes to continue pursuing her ambitions in the arts through their theatre program.
