FOR ME? At a surprise recognition party, sophomore Sofia Deler enters the auditorium full of friends, family and supporters to congratulate her on winning a Jimmy award. photo/Chasity Maynard

Orange County Public Schools gathered friends, family and educators of sophomore Sofia Deler to surprise and congratulate her win of a Jimmy Award. 

Deler won the Jimmy for Best Actress for her performance in The Children’s Hour. She received the national award, along with a $10,000 scholarship, in New York. Deler’s win of the Best Actress Applause Award, also for Children’s Hour, from Dr. Phillips Center for Performing Arts qualified her to enter the Best Actress Jimmy. 

Deler’s accomplishment gained national recognition for Boone High School and OCPS’s theater programs. Scott Evans, OCPS Visual and Performing Arts Administrator, and Dr. Carl Cartwright, former Howard Middle School principal, attended the surprise party to congratulate Deler and thank her for highlighting OCPS’s arts programs. Teachers from Deler’s high school down to her elementary school attended the party in the auditorium to congratulate the young actress. Nadine Love, Boone’s theater director, organized the event and thanked Deler as well. 

“[Deler’s win] puts Boone High School in the national spotlight and recognizes us as a program that produces the emerging artists for tomorrow,” Love said. 

Following Evans, Cartwright and Love’s speeches congratulating Deler, the winner herself took the mic to thank her friends, family and teachers for their support. 

“Thank you Ms. Love, for giving me this opportunity. It started here, and I appreciate it,” Deler said. 

Deler aspires to attend Julliard and perform on Broadway in her future. Deler’s family, friends and educators support and believe this Jimmy recognition and her talent will drive her to achieve this dream. 

By Chasity Maynard

Howdy, I’m Chasity, reference editor. In addition to journalistic writing, I love music, running, dancing, and poetry. I am the lead trumpet player in my ensemble and a lifeguard, as well. I juggle my busy schedule with a mild chocolate addiction and an awful habit of spewing bad puns. I live by this quote: “Shoot for the moon. If you miss, you’ll land among the stars.”

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