Alan Lebow Awards 2020

Celebrating its 11th year of awarding local high schoolers for their excellence in Shakespearean performances, the Lebow Award presentation was hosted on February 15 in the Kravis Center’s Weiner Banquet Center. Cash prizes totaling $5,000 were bestowed on eight Palm Beach County students from six local Title I high schools following an adjudication process. Alpha Media’s X102.3 Radio’s MoShay LaRen served as the event’s keynote speaker. After the awards ceremony, participating students and teachers were provided tickets to attend the evening’s performance of Hamilton.

Sponsored by Kids’ Dreams, Inc., in memory of its co-founder, Alan Lebow, the award program engages students from Title I high schools and provides the opportunity for them to perform short selections from William Shakespeare’s works before a panel of distinguished judges. The student adjudication took place on January 11, at which they performed their selected work and were evaluated and scored by three judges in five categories of performance: concentration, emotional commitment, energy, evidence of understanding, and overall performance. The judges were Desmond Gallant, Sally Ricca and Karen Stephens.

“This award ceremony at the Kravis Center is a fitting tribute to my husband,” said Patricia Lebow. “He was a man whose passion in life involved theater, film, art and literature — always with an overriding touch of kindness for all those he met on his journey through life.”

Judith Mitchell, CEO of the Kravis Center, welcomed guests to the Lebow Award ceremony and recognized the Kids’ Dreams Board of Directors in attendance. Ms. Mitchell also recognized Patricia Lebow, president and co-founder of Kids’ Dreams, for her commitment to providing a variety of outstanding arts opportunities for children in the community including the Lebow Award for Excellence in Shakespearean Performance. In 2015, Kids’ Dreams made a gift to the Kravis Center to permanently endow the Lebow Award.

“I am pleased to honor the accomplishments of the 2020 Alan Lebow Award recipients,” Mitchell said. “This program would not be possible without the support of Kids’ Dreams. We also acknowledge the dedication and commitment of the high school teachers. Without their guidance and support, the students would not be prepared to participate in this outstanding program.”

The two Top Winners were Jordan Monteagudo and Vanessa Whittle, both juniors at Royal Palm Beach Community High School. Each won a prize of $1,000. Ne’Quann Raymond, a senior at Forest Hill Community High School, and Emily Moreland, a freshman at FAU High School were both awarded $750 as an Honorable Mention.

Andrea Figueroa-Rodriguez, a senior at Forest Hill Community High School, and Madison Porter, a sophomore at Forest Hill Community High School, were awarded $500 as Distinguished Participants. Notable Participants Felicity Dillow, a sophomore at Royal Palm Beach Community High School, and Tedly Eximon, a senior at Glade Central Community High School were both awarded $250.