In January of 2025, students were going back to school and leaving the Christmas season behind. However, junior Piper Leber had just received an email, but not just any email. This email would start her journey as a STO.
Since the seventh grade, Leber has had a visible passion for acting, shown through her dedication and hard work ethic for theater.
“I mainly wanted to (apply for this) for the experience,” Leber said. “Because I wanted to do more theater related things and I thought it would be a cool opportunity.”
Theater has brought many opportunities for Leber. She has blossomed as a person and an actress. It also brought her the new and exciting opportunity of becoming the first State Thespian Officer (STO) in SHS history.
“I feel really happy when I do it (acting),” Leber said. “I feel like I can be myself, and I can just be creative.”
Leber and Theater Director Caleb Francis both state that theater and becoming a STO have helped her grow her confidence and leadership.
By taking on this significant role, she is also drawing attention to the things the SHS Theater Department is doing.
“So if people know Piper, then they know Southport, and that she can kind of spread the good word of ‘Yeah, we’re doing good things,’” Francis said.
When Leber joined theater back in her seventh grade year, she met her best friend, senior Nienna Wittlief.
Wittlief has seen Leber’s passion for theater grow from the start and is proud of her. Seeing her best friend grow is a gift.
“I was very happy for her, because I know that it’s something that she’s wanted to be ever since she found out about it,” Wittlief said. “I’m really proud that she got into it and actually immersed herself in the experience.”
Although the process of becoming a STO may sound simple, it takes talent and passion. One must fill out a Google form that will be sent to the Thespians. They send in audition videos and then they will be selected by past STOs.
Once she got the information saying she had been selected, she was ecstatic. Leber has, since then, been going to the meetings, planning competitions and regionals and serving as leaders for their competitions.
“When I first realized I became a STO, I felt a mixture of shock and excitement,” Leber said. “I was surprised that I was chosen, especially because the other candidates came from bigger schools and were known by people that were already on the board.”
Theater has become a place where Leber can inspire people and be creative. She has grown to become a leader in the SHS Theater Department and amongst other thespians over the state.
Leber’s confidence and leadership opportunities have helped her move forward in her theatrical career.
“She’s definitely going to be a big leader,” Wittlief said. “She’s definitely going to do great things with her life because I
know that she will make it one day.”
