Local teacher coordinates event to celebrate, showcase area talent

Public school students from the Magnolia, Ark., School District file into the Sullivan Performing Arts Center Sunday evening to take part in the first ArkLaTex Honor Awards Show.
Public school students from the Magnolia, Ark., School District file into the Sullivan Performing Arts Center Sunday evening to take part in the first ArkLaTex Honor Awards Show.

Crowds of children and adults poured into the Sullivan Performing Arts Center in Sunday evening to sing, dance, entertain and be entertained at the first ArkLaTex Honors Award show.

Brandon Wilkins, a pre-kindergarten teacher for the Texarkana, Texas, Independent School District, said he organized the event to showcase generations of performing artists in pop culture and other fields, and to encourage the drive for success to be passed from one generation to the other.

"Basically, this whole thing started because I wanted to celebrate entertainers, artists and other people and their success in life as a way to show generations how to pass the torch of success from one generation to another," he said. "Basically, this show is similar to the Grammys.

Wilkins added that many student dancers in the show are from the Magnolia, Arkansas, School District.

The show, set to last at least 90 minutes, featured award categories including entrepreneur, hair stylist, barber, entertainer, educator, chef, community leader and culture influencer.

Wilkins, who's been a TISD teacher for the last five years, said he would like to make the show an annual event as well as keeping it at the performing arts center.

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