Texas Border Business
The Palms- Rio Grande Valley High School Theatre Awards(The Palm Awards), founded in 2018 by the McAllen Performing Arts Center and two retired high school theatre professors, Michael Alibis and Gilbert Cepeda has served as a platform for theater students by elevating the importance of performing arts education in schools. The Palm Awards are a celebration of outstanding student achievement, highlighting the hard work of thousands of high school students and teachers involved in theatre arts education.
Now it its third year, the Palm Awards has become a highly anticipated event for the community with over 25 schools throughout the Rio Grande Valley participating annually and gathering over 1,700 people for a red carpet event and awards ceremony, which was the first of its kind in the Rio Grande Valley. Nevertheless, the Palm Awards did not stop there and formed a scholarship fund to help students purse their dreams.
The Palm Awards had originally planned to take place on April 26, 2020 at the McAllen Performing Arts Center but like all live events, it was forced to postpone. The Palms Scholarship Fund decided “the show must go on” and to celebrate the dedication these students and directors have for the arts, the awards ceremony needed to take place. The Palms will now take place “Live” via social media platforms and will be broadcast live locally on Somos el Valle 5.2, Spectrum Cable 1240, May 24, 2020 at 3:00 p.m.
With the live events community facing these unprecedented times and social gatherings not being permitted, producers, community leaders and celebrities have come together to ensure that the award show that was inspired hundreds of Rio Grande Valley Students goes on!
The Palm’s Board shared their story with various television executives throughout the nation and were able to secure various celebrities to help host the virtual event. Event producers’ perseverance has inspired celebrities such as Cristela Alonzo, Khary Payton, Valente Rodriguez, Ryan Eggold, Raul Castillo, Gabrielle Ruiz, Jocko Sims, Carlos Moreno Jr. and many more to participate and help producing a star-studded award show that has never been seen in the Rio Grande Valley.
“What has been a great event for our community for the past three years has now been taken to the next level, it has truly been a silver lining for our theatre and arts education community” said Yajaira Flores, Director of the McAllen Performing Arts Center.
Here is what Cristela Alonzo, an Edinburg High School graduate and Carlos Moreno Jr., a PSJA graduate who voiced three characters in the Oscar-winning movie. “Coco” have to say about their involvement with the Palm Awards.
“We are living through a time where we are all figuring out how to live day-by-day and it can be tough. The most important thing to remember right now, is that while The Palm Awards can’t be done in person, it doesn’t take away from the students’ love of theater and their talent. I am happy to be part of this because years ago, I was one of those students. I was taught by RGV teachers Mr. Bryan Honl, Mr. Robert Gomez and Mrs. Ofelia Gonzalez-Pena and because of that, I want to be there for the students and celebrate their talent right along with them. They need to hear that they’re special and the time they have dedicated to the arts is appreciated by a former PSJA Bear that went out and did what I never thought was possible…and it was because of the high school theater in The Rio Grande Valley. A reminder that if you have a dream, Si Se Puede.”- Cristela Alonzo
“Now more than ever, the world needs artists, but artists, especially young ones, need a support structure. As a young actor, having my work recognized gave me confidence and propelled me into a career. As the pandemic has brought us closer, The Palm Awards are a gift that allows me to remain involved. Maybe I can make a few young artists forget our current crisis and chuckle a bit. I hope they see that their futures are bright and reachable.”- Carlos Moreno Jr.
Some of the celebrities that will be appearing on this Sunday’s award show are originally from the Rio Grande Valley and hope their success story serves as a motivation to the hundreds of students participating in this year’s award show.
Follow The Palms- Rio Grande Valley High School Theatre Awards on Facebook to be the first to learn about announcements, list of nominees and any event updates. https://www.facebook.com/thepalmshcta
