Windermere student named U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts

BY KATIE STEED

STAFF INTERN

Joshua Brown, of Windermere, dreams of being on stage.

And he’s well on his way.

Most recently, Brown was selected as a 2022 U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts. He was among 20 students selected by the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars to receive the honor.

The son of Rebecca Brown and Craig Brown, Joshua Brown said he was ecstatic to win the prestigious award.

“You are just recognized by the White House for your exemplary achievement and heart,” he said. “It’s about who you are as a person.”

“Our 2022 Presidential Scholars represent the best of America and remind us that when empowered by education, there are no limits to what our young people can achieve,” U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said in a prepared statement. “Today, I join President (Joe) Biden to celebrate a class of scholars whose pursuit of knowledge, generosity of spirit and exceptional talents bring our nation tremendous pride. Throughout one of the most trying periods in our nation’s history and amid our recovery from the pandemic, our students have once again demonstrated their strength and that they have so much to contribute to our country. Thanks to them, I know America’s future is bright.”

This achievement is impressive, but it becomes extraordinary once you realize the process Joshua Brown went through to be nominated for this award — let alone win.

First, he had to apply for the YoungArts competition through his school, Interlochen Arts Academy. YoungArts is a competition held annually in Miami. Many performers, such as Viola Davis, Timothee Chalamet and King Princess, have won the YoungArts competition.

“You basically audition and you throw your video out in the dark, and you just hope on getting some recognition,” Joshua Brown said.

Not only did he make it as a finalist for YoungArts, but also Joshua Brown was one of 60 students nominated for the Presidential Scholarship. From there, he made it to the top 20 students for the ultimate nomination spot.

Joshua Brown had to compete against more than 5,500 students from both YoungArts and the nominees from the Presidential Scholarship to emerge as the winner.

When asked how his life has changed since winning this scholarship, he simply said his day-to-day life hasn’t changed at all but his attitude about himself and acting has.

“I think the biggest thing that has changed is that I believe in myself a lot more,” he said. “Acting is an unpredictable profession, but this is an anchor for me to remember that I am a Presidential Scholar.”

Before he won the Presidential Scholarship of the Arts, Joshua Brown performed 14 shows throughout his high school career. His top favorites are “Winter’s Tale” at Interlochen, “The Lower Depths” at Interlochen and “Medea” at Montverde Academy.

“I’m proud of them, because I struggled in the beginning, and I think those have required me to work the hardest,” he said. “I challenged myself with what being an artist means. I had to take so much time out of rehearsal and work with myself and make sure I was coming to the rehearsal every single day ready to work.”

The teachers Joshua Brown would love to thank are Christine Marie Brown, Bill Church and Gulshirin Dubash — all from Interlochen. He said they all pushed him when it came to acting, displayed inspiring leadership and were incredibly kind to him throughout his time at Interlochen.

Joshua Brown has committed to Carnegie Mellon University this fall in Pittsburgh, where he will be pursuing a bachelor’s degree in fine arts in acting. His ultimate career goal after college is to “pursue theater, because all of the actors that I have grown up admiring have all started in the theater, and I think that it turns you into an artist prepared for anything. If I start with theater,  you can truly take on anything after that.”