Tristan and Emma Travel to New York City: A Fundraiser Luncheon
June 27 @ 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm CDT
ESU Members and Friends of ESU are invited to a special fundraiser luncheon on Saturday, June 27, to hear the remarkable journeys of our two most recent ESU Kansas City Branch First Place Winners as they performed in our annual Shakespeare Competition. Together, they will offer a fascinating look at the hard work, discipline, and passion for Shakespeare that culminated in this outstanding accomplishment.
Tristan Jenkins, our First Place winner from this year’s competition, and Emma Scherman, last year’s First Place winner, describe their remarkable experiences as they began preparing for the competition at their school, the excitement of winning First Place in the Kansas City Branch competition, traveling to New York City, meeting fellow competitors from around the nation, and ultimately performing on one of America’s most celebrated stages at Lincoln Center.
Don’t miss this opportunity to hear firsthand their unforgettable journey to one of the nation’s most prestigious student Shakespeare competitions in the nation. Tristan’s and Emma’s friends, relatives, fellow classmates, teachers, and other competition students are all invited to this special luncheon program.
When: Saturday, June 27, 2026, 12:00 pm
Where: O’Neill’s Restaurant, 9417 Mission Rd., Leawood, Kansas
Program registration fee: $30 per person. Click here to purchase a registration fee.
Food selection: Enjoy the flexibility of ordering from O’Neill’s extensive menu. The cost of your meal will be separate from our Program Registration Fee. Each family, couple, or individual will pay from a separate bill at the end of the meal. A cash bar will be available. Please make your reservation no later than June 23 so we have a good count for the restaurant.
We will have some wonderful door prizes and a 50/50 raffle at the end of the program. Please call Jeff Schnabel at (816) 878-1239 if you have any questions.
About the Shakespeare Competition
The ESU Kansas City Branch has hosted annual Shakespeare Competitions in Kansas City for 42 years. We are proud that we have had two First Place National Winners, two Second Place National winners, one Third Place National winner, and four students who placed in the top ten Finals in the National Shakespeare Competition. This competition helps students develop speaking and critical thinking skills while they explore the beauty of the language and the timeless themes in Shakespeare’s works. These competitions give high school students in the KC metro area the opportunity to prepare a Shakespeare monologue and sonnet for public presentation. They bring Shakespeare to life in their own way and learn to express his works with understanding, clarity, and feeling.