Star’s Fans Support Scholarship
Television can entertain, humor, and inspire us. Walnut Hill alumnus Van Hansis ’00 inspires many as Luke Snyder on the CBS drama As the World Turns, a role that has earned him two consecutive Daytime Emmy Award nominations, but, more importantly, the hearts of viewers internationally. Van’s character has stirred great interest because of his same-sex relationship with character Noah Mayer, played by Jake Silbermann. While some view the plotline as controversial, most applaud Van and others on the show for promoting understanding and tolerance.
Currently, the Van Hansis message board www.vanhansis.net has more than 1,600 members. To honor Van, a group of 70 fans from five countries who converse regularly on this message board celebrated his birthday with a gift to Walnut Hill. Their gifts totaled over $7,000 to support the Student Sponsorship Program, allowing a theater student to attend Walnut Hill who might not otherwise have been able to.
Van wrote to fans, "Having spent four years at Walnut Hill, I know what this student will gain from his education. Not only will he receive a world-class liberal arts education, which will prepare him, if he so chooses, for college. In addition, his education as an actor will prepare him for the best schools of drama in the country. He will learn the value of work. He will learn that as a performer, there is nothing you can't do if you have put the work in beforehand, and learn to trust yourself. He will also make a family. The friends you make in boarding school are the friends you have for life. They are truly a second family, and a support network you have with you forever. Maybe most importantly, he will have the time of his life. Walnut Hill was, and will always remain, an incredibly important part of my life. “Fan Theresa Webber considers this gift a win-win situation for everyone, saying, “In supporting the School, we feel like not only are we showing our respect for Van and giving thanks, but we're also able to support someone who down the road might be in a similar position as Van, and it is great to know that we might be a small part of that.”
