Chris Price Receives First Cappies Casey Feldman Scholarship Award

John Gildea, SHS Theater Director (left), Casey's parents, Dianne Anderson and Joel Feldman and Chris Price at the Cappies Gala

The first Casey Feldman Memorial Foundation Cappies scholarship was awarded at the 6^th annual Greater Philadelphia Cappies Gala on May 15, 2011. The outstanding young man who received the $1000 scholarship was Chris Price from Lindenwold High School in N.J., who will be attending Rutgers University in the fall. Marge Triplo, Cappies Mentor’/Director/Steering Committee Member wrote the following in her letter of recommendation for the scholarship:

As the Cappies Mentor/Advisor/Director for Lindenwold High School, I would like to submit the name of an outstanding senior for the Casey Feldman Memorial Foundation scholarship.  I was moved by the beautiful tribute you shared with us regarding Casey’s life and the impact she made on the world in her short time with us.  Please know that all of us in the Cappie organization feel grateful that she was such an oustanding Cappie and we continue to feel the sense of loss.  Our high school has been involved in the Cappies since the year it began in Philadelphia and I remember well her name and the numerous contributions she made during those early, important years of establishing the program.

Chris Price holding his scholarship recognition plaque

I believe that my senior, Christopher Price, shares many of the same qualities that Casey exhibited.  Chris is an outstanding journalist.  He was a finalist last year at the Cappies Gala in the category of Underclassman Male Critic (having been published three times). This year, he has again been published and is a finalist for Senior Critic.

Chris has been in theatre with me since the 5th grade.  He is a triple treat and has proudly represented our school in the All South Jersey Chorus.  He played Horton the Elephant in our recent musical, Seussical. The role was most fitting since he is, as Horton, a gentle giant.  Despite his numerous talents, he remains grounded, modest, is a gentleman, and loved by all who know him. He is compassionate and supportive of others; I have never heard him utter unkind words about anyone.  More than any other student I have had in the last few years, he perfectly fits the description of role model, mentor, and outstanding Thespian.

At Lindenwold High, Chris has been involved in numerous honor societies, the Leo Club, Choir, Student Government, and athletics.  Chris is number 2 in his class and plans to attend  Rutgers University where he hopes to continue his theatre involvement and love of writing. Having worked extensively in community service, he is also considering a career in public service.  Last summer, Chris was chosen as one of 35 students nation-wide to attend The St. Albans School of Public Service in Washington, D.C.   The School of Public Service is a unique program that brings highly motivated and achievement oriented students together to explore government, politics, and public service.   Because of his character and accomplishments, he was awarded a scholarship to this prestigious program and has felt that the experience was “life-changing”.

I believe that Chris would be honored to receive this coveted scholarship since it embodies the very characteristics to which he strives to achieve.   His most recently published review of “Cats” can be read on the Monday, March 28th philly.com Cappies page.

Quite surprised at receiving the award, Chris was warm and gracious in accepting the scholarship. In a followup note to the Feldmans, Chris wrote,  Again, I just want to take the time to thank you so much for blessing me with the honor of the Cappies Casey Feldman Memorial Foundation Scholarship. It touched not only me, but also my school and family, and for that I am eternally grateful. I will most certainly give my utmost to live up to all that Casey stood for and believed in. I truly cannot fully express how this honor will forever change my life. Thank you again, and I plan to keep in touch!

Click here to read the article from the Delco News Network about this year’s Cappies Gala. Click here to go to the photo gallery to view photos of Casey’s high school theater productions and Cappies. Click here to read the article and here  to view photos from from the Cappies Gala 2010 in which Casey was awarded an honorary Cappie and the Springfield High School cast won multiple Cappies for The Laramie Project, performed in honor of Casey.