![\"2015](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/2015_Scholarships_recipients_left_to_right_Carla_Smith_Caleb_Heynes_and_Andiswa_Mbolekwa._Photo_credit_Debbie_Yazbek_web.jpg\")
<\/a>ACT CEO, Pieter Jacobs says of the six finalists: \u201cIt takes a rare combination of natural talent, potential for growth, charisma, and a bit of magic that leads to a candidate being selected as one of six finalists from among 300 participants. It’s going to be a very tough final round and we are excited to host these exceptional young performers and see them battle it out on stage.\u201d<\/p>\n
All exceptionally excited about making it through the audition process, this super six all firmly believe winning an ACT Scholarship would offer them a life-changing opportunity.<\/p>\n
The Western Cape\u2019s Jeani Heyns explains; \u201cHave you ever watched fireworks go off at the start of a new year? The spectacular display ignites feelings of excitement, and awe, but also a faint nervousness, because you know they signify the start of a new year. I would say my feelings toward the finals are similar, because the finals and winning the Scholarship signifies my first step toward my future as a performer.\u201d<\/p>\n
She says that winning a Scholarship would mean the world to her. \u201cIt would help write a prominent chapter in my story,\u201d she concludes.<\/p>\n
Fellow Western Cape scholar, Tamzin Williams believes her acting and singing capabilities coupled with her confidence helped her catch ACT\u2019s attention. \u201cI feel overwhelmed yet humbled and blessed that I was chosen to be one of the finalists. It just proves that hard work does pay off when you set your mind to achieve something.\u201d<\/p>\n
Virtuous Kandemiiri from Centurion says winning a Scholarship would not only allow her to do what she feels most natural doing, it would also help lift the financial burden of tertiary education fees off her family. \u201cPerforming arts is a huge part of my life, a natural sense of being home and doing what I believe I was born to do. This opportunity is everything that I need right now,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
These sentiments are echoed by the Eastern Cape\u2019s Thandaza Silwane. \u201cDue to financial constraints, winning a Scholarship would mean the world to me. I wouldn’t really have to stress about how and where I am going to receive money for university. It definitely places me a few steps closer to my dream.\u201d<\/p>\n
And while ecstasy and pride fill all the finalists, Gauteng\u2019s Sibusiso Nhalpo says he still hasn\u2019t shaken his nerves. \u201cThere is still so much to do in order to make sure that I get the Scholarship,\u201d he says. \u201cBut come what may, I am ready and so thrilled to have achieved a final spot. Winning this scholarship would mean perfecting my craft and getting the chance to study and meet other artists from different parts of South Africa, it would also mean working hard and being afforded the opportunity to study and broaden my horizons.\u201d<\/p>\n
Broad horizons are what all the finalists have their sights set on, but the Eastern Cape\u2019s Robin Castle says he hopes the fact that he\u2019s realising his dream will encourage others.<\/p>\n
\u201cWinning this scholarship would mean the world to me, as I did this audition not only for myself but to bring my message across; that a dream is just a step away from reality, and winning the Scholarship would mean that I can bring this message to life.\u201d<\/p>\n
The six Grade 12 scholars will showcase their talent at the final event on Monday, 10 October at the Market Theatre in Johannesburg. The winners will be named on the night.<\/p>\n
For more information, please visit www.act.org.za\/programmes\/scholarships.html<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Six gifted Grade 12 scholars are one step closer to claiming their share of R800 000 to help realise their dream of studying the performing arts at tertiary level. This incredible opportunity has been granted to them as part of the 8th annual Arts & Culture Trust (ACT) Scholarship Programme. Since 2009, ACT has been… Continue reading ACT Announces Their Sensational Six Finalists<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2183","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","entry"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2183","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2183"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2183\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2183"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2183"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2183"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Issued by The Famous Idea on behalf of The Arts & Culture Trust<\/pre>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"