RANCHO MURIETA, CA (MPG) - Entertainment, Theater & Culture for Rancho Murieta (ETC) awarded its annual $2,000 scholarship to graduating senior Joseph Lew during the Aug. 16 concert at Lake Clementia Amphitheater. Last year’s recipient, Seline Tijero, presented the check to Lew as part of the ceremony.

Lew, who just graduated from John Adams Academy in El Dorado Hills, will attend Folsom Lake College this fall and plans to transfer to UC Davis to study medicine.

Lew said his high school theater experience helped shape his goal to become a pediatrician. 

“Well, I’ve always been interested in helping other people, and being an older kid in high school really helped me to find my passion in helping little kids,” he explained. “That led me to want pediatric medicine.” 

He added that performing taught him to be a mentor and bring joy to others, something he hopes to carry into medicine: “Going to the hospital is kind of a scary thing, so I want to bring my sense of joy to doing that.”

Many in the audience probably recognized Lew from his role as a barista at The Local Bean, where he has worked two days a week for more than a year. He called the experience valuable: “Being a barista is a good first job that helps with people skills and teaches you how to work without a lot of stress,” he said. “I’ve gotten to know a lot of people and gotten close to the regulars who pop in every day.”

Lew’s winning essay focused on the role of the arts in helping him avoid isolation and find personal growth. 

After seeing a friend withdraw during the pandemic, he reflected that he, too was “stuck in a cycle of constant, dopamine-receiving activities.” His turning point came when he joined a school musical: “Although I was initially apprehensive, I quickly grew to enjoy the experience.” The essay concluded: “If I hadn’t participated in my first production, I would still be stuck in my house, rotting away, a slave to my screen.”

At the concert, ETC’s philanthropy chair, Stephanie Stanislaus, spoke about the organization’s mission.

“I want to welcome all of you and thank each and every one of you for your participation and support of ETC, because without you, we could not do what we do, and that is keeping the arts alive in the community,” she said. 

She noted that ETC’s philanthropy includes both awarding scholarships and providing arts grants to local schools.

ETC Board President JT Turner emphasized the program’s importance: “Our annual scholarship program is one of the most meaningful things we do at ETC. It gives us a chance to recognize and support young people who are passionate about the arts, whether it’s entertainment, theatre or culture. Presenting the award on stage each year is always a special moment.

“It’s a reminder that while the concerts bring us together in the moment, we’re also investing in the future of creativity and community.”