On Nov. 8 Kelly Cooper and her second period honors class competed in the North Carolina Theater Festival at Watauga High School, in Boone.

A total of 16 shows were performed on the two days with only two picked to advance to the state level. West students performed “A Fatal Mindset” and “Anatomy of Gray” on Nov. 9 at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., respectively.

“A Fatal Mindset” was student written by seniors Melanie Perez and Jennie Battle. Battle also performed as a lead alongside senior Maddie Tweed in “A Fatal Mindset.” The storyline consisted of Tweed’s character, Miranda, being killed in a car crash and receiving a second chance to live on earth through Battle’s character, Madison.

The shows presented by West garnered a total of eight awards. Seniors Heath Wines, Katie Miller, Connor Courtney and junior Cavan Stanaway took home four excellence in acting awards. Additionally, Battle and Tweed won an award for excellence in dual acting. Perez and Battle won an award for excellence in student writing. Austin Downing won an award for excellence in sound design and Kelly Cooper, the director of both shows, was awarded best director.

“On my way up to receive the best director award, I wanted to take my whole class up with me because they are the ones who truly allowed me to win this,” Cooper said.

Despite winning eight awards, neither one of West’s shows were passed on to compete at a state level. However, “neeT Teen,” (Kinston High School) and “This Is a Play,” (Kings Mountain High School) advanced to the state competition.

By Austin Downing, Editor in Chief of Wingspan Online