Southern Delaware School of the Arts turns 20

The Southern Delaware School of the Arts hosted its 20-year anniversary celebration May 11. Students and faculty current and past were present for the special gathering. 

“We thought it would be nice for former students to come and show their appreciation,” said Travis Bower, first-year SDSA principal. “Having the community here has been amazing. Seeing their support is a great feeling.”

The anniversary celebration featured dance and vocal performances by current and past students, a musical performance by the alumni band Twice Removed and a Walk of Fame ceremony. 

“We chose five alumni who have used the arts after graduation,” Bower said. “These are individuals who used their passion for the arts in their lives after here. We decided to present them with stars in the hallway to represent a walk of fame.”

Gillian Letonoff, 2011 graduate of SDSA and 2015 graduate of Sussex Tech, received her star on the walk of fame for her career as a professional dancer. “I’ve been dancing since I was 3 years old,” Letonoff said. “For the past year, I’ve been living in Oklahoma, and performing as a part of the Oklahoma City Ballet. Before that, I was part of the Ballet Theatre of Maryland.” She plans to continue dancing in the ballet world with hopes of moving up the ranks. 

The other four former students who received walk of fame stars included Ashlie Workman, who has continued with her passion for singing and acting; and Justin Kates, who has dedicated his life to serving others in need. Kates “was responsible for coordinating the response and recovery of FEMA-declared disasters Tropical Storm Irene, the Snowtober nor’easter, Superstorm Sandy, Winter Storm Nemo, and Winter Storm Juno,” Bower said.

Rebecca Southmayd received her walk of fame star for her continued work in the world of television, becoming one of the top producers of the morning show, 12 News Today. Matthew Wiltshire, a member of SDSA’s inaugural class, is the final member to receive a star on the walk of fame. He saves lives in a medical setting, and is currently working on an internship to become an anesthesiologist. 

Former SDSA Principal Neil Bahan was in attendance. “This is a terrific school that has always had a terrific staff,” Bahan said. “There is increased pressure on academics here, but also a lot on the arts.” He went on to discuss the importance of letting the kids have fun while they learn, as sometimes letting them sing songs can help them learn better. “It’s great for visual learners,” he said. “Kids that come here stay here.”