September 3, 2014
Stonestreet family creates scholarship for K-State students
Eric Stonestreet made his dreams come true, with help from his parents. Now Stonestreet and his parents are helping K-State theater students achieve their dreams. Stonestreet established the Vincent and Jamey Stonestreet Theatre Scholarship as a way to honor his parents, who supported his dream to pursue acting, and to provide financial assistance to upperclass students enrolled in the theater program in the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance in the College of Arts & Sciences.
"I wanted to do something for theater students and people at K-State who may have found their way to theater," Stonestreet said. "I didn't go to K-State to study theater, but ended up finding my way there. I was lucky and had the support of my parents. They were behind me with respect to whatever I decided to study. Not every kid has parents who are willing or able to help them out. It means a lot to my mom and dad that we can help those kids out. That's what it's really about."
Several students have already benefited from the scholarship. Joey Boos, who graduated from K-State in May 2014 with a degree in theater, sent a letter to the Stonestreets, thanking them for their support.
"This theater program means everything to me," Boos wrote. "It is my home and everyone here is my family. I truly appreciate you and all you have done for us here in the K-State theater program. I am a theater performance major because I simply decided to study what I love, and I have never regretted it for a single day. It means so much to me to have people like you out there who still have this passion for the arts. It really gives me hope and drive to keep going strong."
Helping students make their dreams come true is why Stonestreet started this scholarship.
"I hope students, in going to college, find their passion, what they want to pursue in their lives to be successful or make their dreams come true," he said. "That's what going to K-State and finding the theater program did for me. It focused me on what I wanted to do with my life. The fact that I've found the success that I have obviously comes back to the beginning of my career, which is at K-State."
During financially tight times, the arts are often cut or starved of financial support. Stonestreet encourages others to support the arts at K-State and make an impact on the lives of more than just the students they support.
"Actors, artists, entertainers — we create cultural touchstones, and this is an opportunity to help kids go out and make an impact on our society and our culture."