20 North Carolina high school students compete for DPAC's 2025 Rising Star Award

DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) -- Who are the best high school musical theater performers in North Carolina?

The Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC) celebrated 20 finalists and crowned the winners in various categories on Thursday night during the 2025 DPAC Rising Star Awards ceremony. Judges chose the 20 finalists from a pool of 180 student nominees.

The award ceremony, in its 14th year, celebrated outstanding young performers from across central North Carolina.

The winners in all award categories, including The DPAC Rising Star Awards' Best Actor and Best Actress, received $2,000 in scholarship, and an all-expense paid trip to New York City to compete in the Jimmy Award, which takes place in June.

This year's Best Actress award was presented to Carmen Sophia Dubon, who attends Weaver Academy in Greensboro.

The Best Actor award was presented to Josiah Jennings, who attends Hillside High School in Durham.

This year's hosts were Clay Aiken and special guest Tony Award Winner, J. Harrison Ghee.

What are the DPAC Rising Star Awards?

It is a regional competition that celebrates keeping the performing arts alive in the North Carolina school systems. It's a proud part of the National High School Musical Theatre Awards (NHSMTA), also known as the Jimmy Awards. This program offers the potential to catapult the careers of Broadway's future stars and is open to high school musical theater programs across central North Carolina.

Rising Star Awards categories

Other awards recognizing excellence in student performance and production that will be presented include:

• Best Ensemble

• Best Musical

• Best Student Orchestra

• Best Student Choreography

• Best Student Lighting Design

• Best Student Costume Design

• Best Dancer

The DPAC Rising Star Awards for more information.

ABC11 is a proud sponsor of this event.

The DPAC Rising Star Awards is presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina.