Scholars Succeed at 2026 KS Thespian Festival

TPS Scholars Succeed at 2026 Kansas Thespian Festival

Posted on 01/13/2026

Topeka High & Topeka West Take Home Top Honors at the 2026 Kansas Thespian Festival

Students from Topeka High School and Topeka West High School earned top honors at the 2026 Kansas Thespian Festival, bringing home superior ratings, national qualifications, and special recognitions.

Topeka High students earned numerous Excellent ratings in acting, musical theatre, and design, with Aaron Daniel Lane and Anna Goering receiving Superiors and qualifying for the International Thespian Festival. Senior Mija Geering earned a perfect score and brought the audience to its feet during her performance, marking Topeka High’s first appearance in the Kansas Thespian Showcase!

Topeka West scholars also excelled, with multiple students earning Superiors in monologues, costume design, musical performance, duet acting, and group acting, including perfect scores for Joey Westphal and Raya Potter! Many Topeka West students also qualified for nationals, and senior Richard Johnson was awarded one of three statewide scholarships.

Congratulations to all Topeka High and Topeka West thespians on another outstanding year of achievement in the fine arts!

Topeka West (top) and Topeka High (bottom) at KS Thespian Festival

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The Topeka Public Schools, Unified School District No. 501 is committed to affirmative action and equal opportunity. No person shall, on the basis of age, race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, disability, national origin or ancestry be denied lawful access to any appropriate educational service, program, or activity provided by the school district. For students, the Title VI, Title IX, and Section 504 compliance coordinator is the General Counsel for the district. For employment, the EEO/AA and Title VII compliance officer is the general director of human resources. Compliance coordinators may be contacted at 624 S.W. 24th Street, Topeka, KS 66611-1294, (785) 295-3000. The clerk of the Board of Education has been designated to receive and redirect or handle inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies, regulations, and procedures. The clerk may be contacted by calling (785) 295-3059 or by writing to 624 S.W. 24th Street, Topeka, Kansas 66611-1294.