Molly Parker, a student at Hinesburg (Vermont) Champlain Valley Union (CVU) High School, has been selected the 2015 Section 1 recipient of the "National High School Heart of the Arts Award" by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS).

The National High School Heart of the Arts Award was created by the NFHS to recognize those individuals who exemplify the ideals of the positive heart of the arts that represent the core mission of education-based activities. This is the second year that the National High School Heart of the Arts Award has been offered.

Despite having become profoundly deaf at age 2½, Parker has not let that hinder her life in any way.

A very hands-on artist from infancy, Parker auditioned for and was cast in two musical dramas and three plays presented by the CVU Drama Club, including “Once Upon a Mattress,” and “The 39 Steps.”

Art club is another activity in which Parker practices and perfects her character drawings, posters and illustrations for creative book writing. A consistent Honor Roll student since her sophomore year, Parker thrives at anything involving creative writing.

Parker’s creative skills were further enhanced in July 2014 when she attended the two-week Camp Mark 7 Deaf Film Camp in the Adirondacks of New York. There, 20 deaf students from across the nation and a staff of deaf professional filmmakers from around the world collaborated to produce several two- to four-minute films. Included in that process were choosing a theme, writing story lines, crafting story boards, costuming, make-up, shooting video, editing, adding special effects and final production and presentation. All of the films were presented to the public in a local theatre.

In addition, the campers and staff created an American Sign Language music video set to Pharrell William’s song “Happy,” which was subsequently posted to the camp’s Facebook page and reposted to YouTube, where it went viral by garnering more than a million hits within eight weeks.

About the Award

The NFHS divides the nation into eight geographical sections. The states in Section 1 are Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island.

Nominations for this award were generated through NFHS member state associations and reviewed by the NFHS Heart of the Arts Award Selection Committee composed of state association staff members.

While the national winner will be recognized June 29 at the NFHS Summer Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana, the section winners will be recognized within their respective states and will receive awards before the end of the current school year.