UNIVERSAL CITY, CALIF.: NBC has awarded grants to 50 high schools across the country to support theatre education programs. The R.I.S.E. grants (Recognizing and Inspiring Student Expression), totaling half a million dollars, are made possible in part by the Education Theatre Foundation. The R.I.S.E. initiative was inspired by NBC’s upcoming television show “Rise,” which premiered March 13.

The recipients were selected from a pool of 1,000 submissions. The recipient schools will receive $10,000 each to support production expenses, technical equipment, master classes, or any critical needs for running the program.

“It is a dream come true for me that ‘Rise’ will have a genuine impact on 50 high school drama programs throughout the country,” said Jason Katims, the show’s creator and executive producer, in a statement. “It has never been clearer that the future of our country rests on the shoulders of the next generation of young leaders. I am excited about the notion that the R.I.S.E. America grants will help support, inspire and nurture creative young minds throughout the country, especially at a time when arts in education is under-valued and under-funded. I am blown away by the generosity of NBC and Bob Greenblatt, along with the efforts of the Educational Theatre Foundation, who have made this all possible.”

In order to qualify for a R.I.S.E. grant, a high school was required to have an existing theatre program or, in cases where a school’s program was cut for budgetary reasons, a champion of the theatre arts on their staff. Schools submitted videos showcasing their programs, a 500-word essay on why their school should receive the grant, and a letter of recommendation from a school administrator.

The recipients include:

1. Charles Henderson High School, Troy, Ala.
2. American Canyon High School, American Canyon, Calif.
3. Henry J. Kaiser High School, Fontana, Calif.
4. Mariposa County High School, Mariposa, Calif.
5. Vaughn Next Century Learning Center, San Fernando, Calif.
6. Seaside High School, Seaside, Calif.
7. Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy, Denver
8. Enfield High School, Enfield, Conn.
9. School Without Walls, Washington, D.C.
10. Hallandale High School, Hallandale Beach, Fla.
11. Plant City High School, Plant City, Fla.
12. The Howard School, Atlanta
13. Nanakuli High and Intermediate School, Waianae, Hawaii
14. Jefferson High School, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
15. Glenbard West High School, Glen Ellyn, Ill.
16. Scecina Memorial High School, Indianapolis
17. Leavenworth High School, Leavenworth, Kan.
18. Boyle County High School, Danville, Ky.
19. Alfred Bonnabel Magnet Academy High School, Kenner, La.
20. The Baltimore City College, Baltimore
21. Hamtramck High School, Hamtramck, Mich.
22. Pine Island High School, Pine Island, Minn.
23. Grand Center Arts Academy, St. Louis
24. Gautier High School, Gautier, Miss.
25. Park High School, Livingston, Mont.
26. Malcolm Public Schools, District 148, Malcolm, Neb.
27. Belmont High School, Belmont, N.H.
28. Bound Brook High School, Bound Brook, N.J.
29. Union Senior High School, Union, N.J.
30. Digital Arts & Technology Academy, Albuquerque, N.M.
31. Equipo Academy East Las Vegas College Prep, Las Vegas
32. Hastings High School, Hastings-On-Hudson, N.Y.
33. Peekskill High School, Peekskill, N.Y.
34. James N Gamble Montessori, Cincinnati
35. Dublin Scioto High School, Dublin, Ohio
36. Henryetta High School, Henryetta, Okla.
37. Regis St. Mary Catholic School, Stayton, Ore.
38. Harry S. Truman High School, Levittown, Pa.
39. Mastery Charter Schools Foundation, Philadelphia
40. Central Falls High School, Central Falls, R.I.
41. Deubrook Area School District 5-6, White, S.D.
42. Jackson County High School, Gainesboro, Tenn.
43. John Overton Comprehensive High School, Nashville
44. Alice High School, Alice, Texas
45. Jack Yates High School, Houston
46. Pharr San Juan Alamo North Early College High School, Pharr, Texas
47. Heritage High School, Leesburg, Va.
48. Rainier Beach High School, Seattle
49. Hudson High School, Hudson, Wisc.
50. Martinsburg High School, Martinsburg, W. Va.