Meet the 2024 Pre-College Intensive Apprentices!
Our Apprentices are WCU students in the Department of Theatre and Dance, who are curious and passionate about working with young people. This program offers a paid opportunity to serve as teaching assistants to our professional staff. The Pre-College apprentices are specially selected to serve as mentors to our high school students — they have gone through the whole college selection process not too long ago, and are excited to share their stories with you. Get to know some of the faces who will become your classmates, RA’s, and mentors over the course of your time at the Pre-College Intensive!
Sophie Cox (she/her)
Class of 2025, Theatre Major (Performance Concentration) with a Minor in Dance
Sophie is.. a creative, artsy, reliable, and empathetic person!
One of my favorite experiences at WCU so far is… serving as assistant choreographer for the annual Broadway Cares - Equity Fights AIDS benefit concert! Every year, the students in UT (University Theatre) produce a concert that helped raise money for people in need and also help break the stigma that society has put on people with AIDS.
What I love about going to WCU is… just everything about the theatre department. I’ve learned so much, and met my lifelong best friends.
Nicci Hardaway (she/her)
Class of 2025, Theatre Major with a Musical Theatre Concentration
Nicci is… introverted until you get to know me! :)
One of my favorite WCU Theatre memories is… getting the chance to play Olga in Three Sisters this year. The entire cast became obsessed with playing solitaire.
One of my favorite parts of being at WCU is … the town is so beautiful. You’ll never run out of places to go.
JT Hawkes (he/him)
Class of 2025, Theatre Major with a Musical Theatre Concentration
JT is… An outgoing, enthusiastic person with a drive to learn and a desire to share my passions with the world!
My favorite experience at WCU so far is… The annual WCUT/BCEFA AIDS Benefit! It’s such a blast every year.
One of the best parts of being a student at WCU is… The WCU environment and culture! I love the town and the people who go to school here and it really makes it feel like we are separated from the rest of the world.
Olivia Opiela (she/they)
Class of 2026, Theatre Production + Design
Olivia is… a caring friend who loves to joke around and have fun.
My favorite WCU theatre experience so far is… working on the Student Written One-Acts, and other student-run productions, with my friends. It’s a really wonderful community and a different sense of ownership when we get to create and build things with other students.
The best part of being a student at WCU is… exploring downtown with my friends! So many great places to go, especially all the cool music stores.
Jesheidi Laporte (they/them)
Class of 2025, Theatre Major
Jesheidi is… whimsical, adaptable, and creative.
One of my favorite experiences at WCU was… Queens and Beans! It’s a part-cooking-competition, part drag show event that served as a fundraiser for the WCU Resource Pantry, and raised awareness of LGBTQ+ food insecurity. Imagine faculty, staff, and students all competing with their favorite canned-bean recipes, then getting judged and cheered on by drag queens. One of my favorite events in my time here.
My favorite part about living and going to school in West Chester is… Therapy dogs!!!!!
Learn more about the Young Company Apprentices | Learn more about the Faculty and Professional Staff