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The Ruth A. Waters
Performing Arts Scholarship

RiverTowne Players is thrilled to recognize the outstanding achievements of this year’s 2025 scholarship recipients! These talented students have demonstrated exceptional commitment to the arts, remarkable involvement in the theater community, and a deep dedication to serving others. Through their passion, creativity, and hard work, they embody the spirit of artistic excellence and community engagement. We celebrate their achievements and look forward to seeing them continue to inspire through their artistry and dedication.

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Macey Coughlin

Jared Estes

Heather Santos

Macey Coughlin is so grateful to be a recipient of the Ruth Waters Rivertowne Scholarship. Rivertowne has been a foundational place of growth for her, especially in fostering her love and passion for the performing arts.  Macey plans to pursue a BFA in Acting at Western Carolina University in the fall with a minor in dance. Macey has been involved in the arts since her freshman year, when she was in her first play at Epiphany. Since then, she has been in shows at Rivertowne, New Bern Civic Theatre, and Elysian Players, as well as choreographing for several shows at Epiphany, Rivertowne, and New Bern Civic. Theatre has inspired Macey in so many ways, especially through the amazing people she has met and the relationships she has been able to build in this community.  Macey is so excited to pursue a career in the arts and thanks the New Bern community for the chance to discover and nurture this passion surrounded by people filled with so much love and support.

Jared Estes first started his theatre experience here at Rivertowne, doing camps when he was seven years old. As he grew to love theatre, he continued with camps at both the Rivertowne and NBCT before branching out to the children’s shows as well. His first non-camp show was Mulan Jr. (NBCT). This lit a fire for performance in his heart, fanning the flames with Hercules Jr. (RTP), Seussical the Musical (RTP), Charlotte's Web (RTP), Aladdin Jr. (NBCT), and Willy Wonka Jr. (NBCT- Pre-COVID). After Covid, he fell in love with Band and Chorus, performing with the NBHS Marching Bears, Indoor Percussion Ensemble, Jazz Band, and Vocal Ensemble for the past four years. Jared plans to take his love for the arts with him to ECU, where he will study Music Education on his journey to teach the next generation the beauty of the arts. He hopes to one day return to Rivertowne, performing in the orchestra to promote live music in theatre.

Heather Santos will be enrolling at East Carolina University this fall, pursuing a double major in Music and Business Management. A passionate performer, Heather has found a creative home with Rivertowne Players, where she has taken on memorable roles including Chava in Fiddler on the Roof. As she begins this new chapter, Heather hopes to continue contributing to the Rivertowne community, this time from the orchestra pit, providing live accompaniment on the flute.

RiverTowne Players is committed to encouraging, promoting, and investing in the future of the arts for those who have been involved in the theater and plan to obtain degree in the Performing Arts (including audiovisual, set design, film, etc.) Each year, three high school seniors will be awarded scholarships toward their advancement of education. A winner, a first runner-up, and second runner-up totaling $5000 in arts education funds. Applicants will be evaluated by an annually appointed team from the RiverTowne Players Board based on the contents of their application, which includes: theatre involvement (at least 3 shows at RiverTowne and a lifetime total of 10 shows), theater honors and awards, community involvement (service, leadership, and extra-curricular activities), and a short essay on the impact of the arts and plans to stay involved.

Ruth Waters is a native New Bernian and has served as president of RiverTowne Players and currently as treasurer. She has been involved in community theatre since 1968 and has worn many hats since then, serving as costume mistress, assistant director, stage manager, actor, and director. Roles in My Fair Lady, Arsenic and Old Lace, You Can’t Take It with You, Cheaper by The Dozen, members of the musicals, Oklahoma, Brigadoon, Hello Dolly, The Music Man, Camelot, Annie Get Your Gun, and The Sound of Music are a few of the productions she has taken part in. Among her credits for directing are: Mary, Mary, Love, Sex, and the IRA, Run For Your Wife, Dearly Departed, Right Bed Wrong Husband, The Sound Of Music (two times), Annie (three times), Nunsense, Nut Crackers, Fiddler On The Roof (two times), Menopause The Musical, and the production that started RiverTowne Players in January 2002, Let Freedom Sing, that was co-directed and written as tribute to those that lost their lives in 09/11.

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