Faith Higgins

PHS senior a ‘super girl’ who is an accomplished performer, dedicated volunteer

Faith Higgins auditioned for her first community theater play when she was 13, and eventually, she got addicted to theater. Since then, she she’s performed in many plays, including with Encore! Theater, while expanding her interests to vocal training and dance.

Last year, Higgins received the highest honor of her budding arts career — the best supporting actress award from the 5th Avenue Theater high school competition.

“It was the coolest moment of my life,” she said. “It verified this is what I should be doing.”

This year, Higgins directed a play under the supervision of Jonathan Bill, Peninsula High School’s theater director.

Higgins said the fun part about theater is meeting interesting people. She’s played diverse roles, including characters who are opposite to her personality, but she said being in character isn’t challenging.

“It’s like a switch,” she said. “As soon as I start (a new play), I am that character, and it doesn’t stop until the show is over.”

Higgins plans to pursue a theater career. After high school, she’s considering taking a year off before she begins college in order to learn the art from one of the region’s professional theaters.

Higgins’ dream is to perform on Broadway, as well as open a nonprofit acting school where children can attend for free.

“Her enthusiasm for the craft and all that is involved is infectious to those around her,” said Peninsula High School English teacher Linda Richards. “She never settles for anything other than her best effort in any production of a project she is involved in.”

Higgins also is a talented costume designer. She’s been sewing since she was 10, and she started designing clothes when she was 12. Her designs have won several awards at the Mason County fair, and the costumes she designed and sewed for “Cinderella,” with the help of her mother, won an honorable mention at the 5th Avenue Theater Awards last year.

Higgins has been described as a “super girl” who is hard-working and energetic. She likes to challenge herself, which is one of the reasons she joined the school’s speech and debate team. She’s also a purple belt in karate.

Higgins also is a talented writer, watercolor artist and singer — and she’s spent hundreds of hours performing volunteer activities.

“As I watched this young lady in class and within the school setting, it has made me wonder if she were twins at times,” said Dale Hoekstra, a history teacher at PHS. “ You are left with a sense of awe at her accomplishments and her involvements.”

Higgins credits her voice teacher, opera singer Christina Kowalski, with her artistic accomplishments.

“She’s really responsible for everything I’ve done,” Higgins said. “She’s been an awesome mentor for me.”

Faith Higgins

Education: Senior, Peninsula High School

GPA: 3.875

Parents: Dan and Julie Higgins

Activities/achievements: Drama Club president; Honor Society; Diversity Club; Fashion Club president; speech and debate; 4-H Club president; Outlook; cheerleading; volunteer at various events; karate purple belt with several awards; performed in “High School Musical,” “Hello Dolly,” “Cinderella,” “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and several other plays; jazz choir; 5th Avenue high school awards, best supporting actress; arts and fashion awards.

Favorite teacher: Linda Richards, “Because her belief in me taught me to believe in myself, and her passion for literature inspired me to accomplish more than I imagined,” she said.

Best thing about high school: “My school is accepting to others. It’s a breeding ground of creativity.”