RANCHO MURIETA, CA (MPG) - Entertainment, Theatre & Culture for Rancho Murieta has awarded grants to support art programs at three schools.

ETC Philanthropy Chair Stephanie Stanislaus delivered $1,000 checks on May 14 to Katherine L. Albiani Middle School (KAMS), Pleasant Grove High School (PGHS) and Cosumnes River Elementary (CRES).

Middle school theater arts teacher Michelle Campbell accepted the check as students in her Exploring Art and Entertainment class looked on with interest. She plans to use the funds to purchase new microphone belts and cover costume rental costs next year.

Ashley Shapiro, who teaches theater arts at Pleasant Grove High School, said she plans to stage a musical next year and will use the funds to cover the licensing fees and costume rentals.

Cosumnes River Elementary fourth-grade teacher Vandy Passmore accepted the check on behalf of all the student productions at the school to pay for props and costumes. Her class had just performed “Gold Dust or Bust” at an assembly. The third-grade students were scheduled to perform  “Grammarosaraurus,” and the fifth-grade students “The American Revolution.”

Before presenting the check at each location, Stanislaus explained the ETC mission to the students. “Our goal is to keep the arts alive in the community,” she said.

Stanislaus emphasized the importance of art in schools. She believes art classes are unique because students genuinely enjoy attending them, and through arts, people learn to “walk in someone else’s shoes” and become more understanding of others.

Three middle school students also shared why they were enjoying their class. One female student told Stanislaus that the class makes people happy and allows her to be creative. A male student said he appreciates doing something that makes him feel deeply and brings him joy. Another male student said he chose the class to try something different and push himself out of his comfort zone, hoping it would help him grow.