On Monday, during an official White House ceremony, First Lady Michelle Obama presented Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) the prestigious National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award, the nation’s highest honor for after-school arts and humanities programs. Marilyn J. Halperin, director of education and the Ray and Judy McCaskey Education Chair, accepted the award in recognition of CPS Shakespeare!, CST’s arts-in-education partnership with Chicago Public Schools (CPS). Current CPS Shakespeare!, participant and Prosser Career Academy junior, Jennifer Guadalupe Gonzalez has been selected as he student representative to address the gathered elected, civic and cultural leaders at the East Room ceremony.

Photo Caption:
First Lady Michelle Obama honors Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) with the 2014 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award at a White House ceremony on November 10, 2014. Marilyn Halperin (at right), CST Director of Education and the Ray and Judy McCaskey Education Chair, and current program participant Jennifer Guadalupe Gonzalez (center) accepted the award on behalf of CPS Shakespeare!, CST’s arts-in-education partnership with Chicago Public Schools. The signature program of the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, the award recognizes the country’s best after-school creative youth development programs for using engagement in the arts and the humanities to develop skills and increase academic achievement, graduation rates, and college enrollment. Photo by Steven E. Purcell.