The theater department, nominated for Best Lead Performer, Best Music Direction, and Student Achievements in Stage Management, Design, and Marketing, for their spring performance of  “9 to 5,” attended the 12th annual Heller Awards for Young Artists ceremony to collect two awards. Student participants from 37 schools in the area walked the red carpet and witnessed the Select Ensemble performance on Wednesday.

At the Long Center, two awards were presented to the cast and crew: Best Lead Performer in the female category for Avery Linden’s performance and the Company Impact Award for Maya Vaughn’s participation in the Select Ensemble. 

“We were up in the nose bleeds and when they called [Avery Linden’s] name we all rose up,” sophomore Evyn Kidd said. “I’m pretty sure the other schools thought we were crazy. We were screaming so loud, like ‘oh my God!’ And we’re so happy for Maya– she shined so bright up on that stage.”

While her cast and crew cheered her one from the nosebleeds, Linden delivered a tearful, small speech after receiving her award. The actress recognized working with the other women in the category to be “eye-opening and inspiring.”

“[That’s] probably the most dramatic I’ve ever been,” Linden said. “I tried to keep it together for my impromptu speech, but before and directly after that I was in tears. It was an incredible way to finish off my last four years of HAYA’s.”

The shining lights of the city and the embracing atmosphere of the event resolved many students’ love for theater.

“You feel like a celebrity there, because you kind of are,” sophomore Thienn Peterson said. “You get to dress up, which is my favorite part, and you get to take pictures, they have a red carpet. Being there with all those people who love the same thing you do and appreciate it is amazing. It made me feel alive, it brought back the spark to my eyes. It feels like Broadway. I thought ‘this is why I do theater.’”