First Lady to Honor NYC’s Rosie’s Theater Kids

By Jaime Sumersille November 17, 2015

New York City-based Rosie’s Theater Kids (RT Kids) will be honored by First Lady Michelle Obama with the 2015 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award on Nov. 17.

The award is the nation’s highest honor for programs such as RT Kids. It acknowledges the country’s most creative youth development programs for using engagement in the arts and humanities to increase academic achievement, graduation rates and college enrollment.

The group is being recognized for its effectiveness in promoting learning and life skills in young people by engaging them in the creative youth development programs. RT Kids is also being acknowledged for its ACTE II (A Commitment to Excellence) scholarship program. In addition to the award, the program will receive $10,000 to support future programming efforts.

“You can’t help but be moved by these kids, who show us the transformative power of the arts and humanities,” said Rachel Goslins, Executive Director of the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities.

Fifteen-year-old Marianna Bottier, an RT Kids member, will travel to The White House to accept the award on behalf the group.

“Having the chance to represent my peers in accepting this award from the First Lady of the United States in the White House was an experience that I’ll never forget,” said Bottier. “Rosie’s Theater Kids changed my life for the better, and I am incredibly grateful to be a part of the program. It is such an honor to be here and it is heartwarming to know that RTKids, and programs like RTKids, are recognized and valued.”

RT Kids is one of the largest art-in-education programs serving New York City public school students, free of charge. For more information, visit www.rosiestheaterkids.org.

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