Scholarship Opportunities for Maine West Fine Art Students #207Now #scholarships @mainewestfab

 

There are a number of scholarship opportunities available to graduating seniors who have been involved in Fine Arts programs at Maine West. Please see the below scholarship opportunities. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask your Fine Arts teacher or Ms. Mullen, Fine Arts Department Chair. You are encouraged to submit application materials for consideration in advance of the due dates.

The MW Fine Arts Boosters scholarships will be awarded at the Senior Awards Night on May 12, 2026.

MAINE WEST FINE ARTS BOOSTERS SCHOLARSHIPS - Due March 20, 2026

Up to 5 scholarships of $500 each are awarded to college-bound seniors who have been active participants in one or more of the Maine West High School fine arts programs: Band, Choir, Orchestra, Visual Arts, West Side Dance Co., Drama, Speech and Broadcasting.

SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

All applicants for scholarships awarded by the Fine Arts Boosters must:

1) Have a cumulative weighted grade point average of 3.0 or higher through the end of the fall semester senior year.

2) Be active in the Maine West Fine Arts programs for a minimum of 2 years.

3) Complete the FAB scholarship online application in its entirety including the transcript copy by submission deadline.  

4) Provide intention of enrollment to a college or university.  Since this is before the commitment date for most universities, the specific school is not required.

Applications must be submitted by midnight on Friday, March 20, 2026.  Only electronic submissions will be accepted.  Late submissions will not be accepted - no exceptions.

HERE is a link to the scholarship application. (Please note, you must use a non-district email address to complete this form.)

If you have any questions, please email them to: MaineWestFineArts@gmail.com

 

Award decisions are made at the sole discretion of the Fine Arts Boosters Scholarship Committee.

ICONIC LEGACY DANCE SCHOLARSHIP - Due March 31, 2026

The ICONIC Legacy Scholarship was established in 2022 by the Wastyn Family. To honor the senior dancers in the class of 2020, the ICONIC Legacy Scholarship is committed to helping the next dancer in line. The Scholarship supports Maine West dancers (in West Side Dance or Warriorettes) who will be going to a 2- or 4-year college or trade program, and who embodies the spirit that life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It is about learning to dance in the rain!

The fourth annual Scholarship application will be open until 3/31/26. 

Here are some requirements for the scholarship:

1. Open to graduating West Side Dance Company members and Warriorettes.  

2. The requirement of having to be 4th year is removed. 

3. The dance video submission has to be an original work choreo and danced by the applicant

4. Two photos must also be upload (1-dance shot and 1-headshot)

5. Please note the enhanced instructions provided for essay.

Application Link:  https://apply.mykaleidoscope.com/program/2026IconicLegacy 

Questions? Please contact IconicLegacyScholarship@gmail.com 

INTERNATIONAL THESPIAN SCHOLARSHIPS - Open February 1, 2026

The Educational Theatre Foundation, an organization related to the International Thespian Organization, of which many Maine West Drama students are members, sponsors a number of drama-related scholarships each year. For information about the scholarships offered by this organization this year, please go to: https://foundation.schooltheatre.org/scholarships/ 

SPEECH SCHOLARSHIPS - Various Deadlines

There are a number of speech-specific scholarship offered by colleges and universities around the country. If you are a senior Speech Team member, please see THIS LIST curated by the National Speech and Debate Association for speech scholarships!

Dimensions: Celebrate! Music Concert #207Now @mainewestfab

 

This year’s Dimensions Concert lit up the auditorium with joy and energy! Students from band, choir, and orchestra came together, creating a night filled with color, connection, and the pure fun of making music as a community.

The theme Celebrate came to life in every piece. Ensembles highlighted moments of triumph, gratitude, and shared experience, reminding everyone why the arts matter so much in our school. From start to finish, the concert felt like a joyful look at everything our students have worked toward this year—performing together, supporting one another, and sharing music that means something to them.

Congratulations to all of the student musicians and their directors - Mr. Bernie Gerstmayr, Ms. Stefanie Herrera and Ms. Daniella Valdez - on a fantastic performance!

Many more pictures from tonight's concert may be found HERE.

The concert program may be found HERE. 

Thank you to WMTH and Ms. Rebecca Fisher for video recording tonight's concert. Enjoy their production below:

Thank you to the Maine West Fine Arts Boosters for supporting - both financially and through volunteer efforts - a pizza dinner that was served to all student participants - on stage and behind the scenes!

National Art Honor Society Students Create Nutcracker for Rosemont Nutcracker Wonderland #207Now #art @mainewestart @lahartanddesign2 @mainewestfab

 

Maine West's National Art Honor Society chapter took part in this year's 2025 Rosemont Nutcracker Wonderland which partners with Operation North Pole, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting seriously and terminally ill children and their families during the holiday season. 

The nutcrackers will be displayed December 15-January 4th at the Donald E. Stephen’s Convention Center. 

This year each nutcracker was designed and painted by 17 different local high school art programs mentored by their teachers and professional artists. Our Maine West students, mentored by Mrs. Kljajic and Mr. Benitez, designed and painted a Neapolitan ice cream themed nutcracker for Maine West's submission. 

Dimensions: Celebrate! Public Art Reception & NAHS Induction Ceremony #207Now #art #reception @mainewestart @lahartanddesign2 @mainewestfab

Every year, our Dimensions Art Exhibit shines a light on the creativity and dedication of all of our student artists. This year’s theme, Celebrate, invites everyone to pause and recognize the moments, people, and ideas that bring joy to our school community.

Walking through the exhibit, you’ll see students lift up the everyday wins, honor meaningful relationships, and highlight the world around them in bold and personal ways. Each piece shows their growing skills and their willingness to take risks, try new approaches, and raise the bar for what’s possible in the visual arts.

Thank you to the many family members, friends and fans who came out tonight for the public reception to help celebrate the achievements of these visual art students!

The exhibit is open to all, and can be viewed in the upper commons through December 18th.

In addition to the reception tonight, we also celebrated new members of the National Art Honor Society being inducted. Congratulations to all of the new members of this leadership group!

Thank you to the Maine West Fine Arts Boosters for generously sponsoring the baked goods and drinks for tonight's reception. 

More pictures of students and their artwork can be found HERE.

West's Cris Lawpattanapong Earns All-State Music Honors! #207Now #excellence #ILMEA @mainewestchoir @mainewestfab

 
We recently learned that Maine West singer, Cristopher Lawpattanapong, has earned All-State Honors! He will be representing Maine West at the state-level event called the Illinois Music Education Conference (IMEC), which will be held in the Civic Center in Peoria, Illinois January 28th-31st, 2026. 

Cris will perform as a bass I singer with the All-State Honors Chorus, the state's highest performing vocal ensemble. Earning a placement in the IMEC All-State conference distinguishes Cris as one of the best music students in the state of Illinois, and is a testament to years of hard work and dedication as a  musician. The entire Maine West community is incredibly proud of Cris!

West's Got Talent 2025! #207Now #talent @mainewestfab @mwactivities @mainewestdrama

 

This year’s West’s Got Talent was nothing short of spectacular! Our students amazed us with their creativity, skill, and confidence, showcasing a wide range of talents that left the audience cheering from start to finish. From mesmerizing musical performances and jaw-dropping dance routines to hilarious skits and impressive acts of artistry, every participant brought something unique to the stage.

A huge congratulations to all of the students who took part—you demonstrated courage, dedication, and a true love for performing. Each performance reminded us why celebrating the arts is so important: it inspires, entertains, and brings our community together in such a special way.

Thank you to everyone who supported the event, from our amazing staff and volunteers to the enthusiastic audience members. Your energy and encouragement made the night unforgettable!

We can’t wait to see what our talented students have in store for next year—keep shining, West! 

HERE is the program.

HERE is a folder full of pictures from the event.

Ray Copeland Named West's 207's Best in Fine Arts for 2025! #207Now #excellence @mainewestfab @mainewesttechcrew

 

On Monday, November 3rd, the Maine Township High School District 207 Board of Education honored three students in the area of fine arts naming them “207’s Best” at a recent meeting. The students honored were Ray Copeland (center) from Maine West, Evangeline Feucht (left) from Maine South and Jackson Horvath (right) from Maine East. 

Congratulations to Ray on her outstanding achievement! 

You can read more about this award, and Ray's achievements in Fine Arts on the D207 website HERE.

2025 Des Plaines Choral Festival #207Now #choir #sing @mainewestchoir @d62schools @mainewestfab

 

Today, we had the pleasure of hosting elementary and middle school students from schools in Community Consolidated School District 62 at Maine West at our annual Des Plaines Choral Festival! During the day, students participated in rehearsals, working with Mr. Nathan Coon and Ms. Stefanie Herrera. 

In the evening, the students filled the spectator gym with their voices, singing beautifully in their individual groups and together! 

Together, hundreds of young musicians shared the joy of singing and celebrated the power of community through music.

Bravo to all the singers and directors for an outstanding performance!

You can view the livestream of the event below:

HERE is the concert program.

HERE is a folder full of pictures.

A huge thank you to our parent volunteers with the Maine West Fine Arts Boosters!

2025 Marching Warriors Showcase #207Now #marchingband #marchingwarriors @mainewestband @mainewestfab

 

The Marching Warriors wrapped up an incredible season this week with their annual Indoor Showcase Concert, featuring their 2025 field show, Redemption for an Outlaw! 

The audience was treated to a powerful performance that brought their Western-inspired story to life with energy, precision, and heart. From expressive brass and soaring woodwinds to the dynamic color guard and driving percussion, every section shined, filling the auditorium with sound.

Additionally, the band played their popular stand tunes and ended the night with the Fight Song.

The showcase not only celebrated months of dedication and teamwork but also highlighted the growth and artistry of each student musician. 

Seniors were given a special acknowledgement for their contributions and leadership to the Marching Warriors.

What a fantastic way to close out the season—congratulations to the Marching Warriors on another unforgettable year!

If you missed the concert, please enjoy the livestream below:

HERE is the program.

HERE is a folder of many more pictures, including pictures of the seniors.