Plano ISD Students Earn Texas Theatre Scholar Recognition for 2025-26

Four students across two Plano ISD campuses have been named Texas Theatre Scholars for the 2025–26 school year by Texas Thespians, the statewide organization that administers the honor recognizing young performers who excel both academically and on stage.

Plano West Senior High School junior Catherine Cockrell earned the program's highest designation, President's Scholar. Her Plano West classmate Jake Kerstine was named a Vice President's Scholar. At Plano Senior High School, Mikayla Bigelow and Matilde Rodriguez-Glass each received Vice President's Scholar recognition, giving the district a pair of honorees from each campus.

According to a Plano ISD news release, the award "celebrates students who exemplify excellence in the classroom and on the stage, and recognizes young artists for their dedication, discipline and passion for theatre education."

Plano Star Courier first reported the designations on March 6, 2026. The announcement drew additional coverage from local and regional outlets in the days that followed.

Texas Thespians has not publicly detailed the specific selection criteria that distinguish President's Scholar from Vice President's Scholar designations, nor whether the award carries a monetary component. Plano ISD has not yet released biographical details about the four recipients or announced any recognition ceremony.