William Hunter Evans
Expires 2027

Hunter is the co-owner and Director of Operations at Ghostlight Educational Theatre Collective, a Downers Grove-based organization he helped establish to counter the impact of arts program underfunding. Ghostlight provides a vital platform for K-12 students, offering a dynamic 12-show season, engaging vocal cabarets, and comprehensive community theatre enrichment, ensuring local youth have ample opportunities to perform. In addition, Hunter serves as the Director of the Performing Arts Center at Downers Grove South High School, bringing his two decades of educational theatre expertise to the role. His artistic talents are also evident through his work as a seven-time scenic designer for the ITA's All-State productions. Hunter is passionately committed to cultivating rich, challenging, and accessible theatre experiences for all students across Illinois, fostering the development of the next generation of performers and theatre enthusiasts.

Wesley Skym

Expires 2026

Wes Skym currently works as a Drama Teacher/Director and Speech Team Coach in Arlington Heights, where his school has earned the national distinction of Premier Community for Theatre Education by the Educational Theatre Association. Additionally, he is an Adjunct Instructor of Communication Arts at the College of Lake County. He holds a BS in Theatre Education from ISU, an MA in Communication, Media and Theatre from NEIU, and is pursuing an EdD in Educational Administration and Leadership at UIUC. On top of teaching, Wes serves as a building union representative, is a member of the IESA Speech Advisory Committee, judges high school speech tournaments, and has experience in directing, acting, voiceover, puppetry, and all aspects of theatrical design. He has presented workshops at the Illinois High School Theatre Festival for years and developed a model for middle school theatre festivals hosted by high schools through ITA, with the first flagship event hosted at Prospect High School in March of 2025. Growing up as a theatre kid since middle school, Wes is determined to work to further theatre opportunities for the youth level and spread awareness of the benefits of participating in theatre at a young age.