Mason Vancleave, a senior at Camas High School (CHS), is known by his friends and peers as a genuine, kind, and high-energy person who always has the best outfits for spirit days. He is also an integral part of theater in Camas.
Vancleave has participated in theater since elementary school. Since then, he has played roles in many school and community productions such as “Anastasia,” “The Addams Family,” “Beauty and the Beast,” and more. This year, Vancleave is part of the dance chorus for CHS’s production of “Hadestown.”
“My favorite part of being involved in theater is getting emotionally invested in the characters and the stories we create,” Vancleave said.
In a Camas School District (CSD) board meeting, Vancleave was recognized for his stand out role in the theater community.
“It’s important our community recognizes the great work students like him do,” CSD Superintendent John Anzalone said.
As well as acting in plays in musicals, Vancleave is a member of the International Thespian Society, which is an honor society that recognizes high school theater students.
Outside of theater, Vancleave is an officer of the CHS Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA), helping to create a safe space for LGBTQIA+ students and allies.
“I love GSA because of the safe and welcoming community we build,” Vancleave said.
After high school, Vancleave plans on going to college to pursue a combination of acting, mathematics, and education.
“I hope to someday be an actor, but I also know that may not happen and so if that doesn’t work out, I plan on becoming a math teacher,” Vancleave said.
When asked about what advice he could give to his younger self, he talked about the importance of making time to hang out with his friends. He said that he noticed a significant difference when he began prioritizing those moments.
“We always learn that all the different aspects of our health are connected, but that means we also need to put effort into all those different areas,” Vancleave said.
Vancleave recalled a favorite memory with his friends that meant a lot to him, following an emotional viewing of “Inside Out 2.” He talked about walking around with his friends afterward and ending up on top of a hill watching a sunset.
“It was a calm, quiet moment,” Vancleave said. “That sunset is probably my favorite high school memory.”
Vancleave’s love for his friends is undeniable and the feeling is wholeheartedly mutual.
“Mason is one of the nicest people I know,” sophomore Daria Kukartseva said. “He welcomed me into the theater department when I was a freshman and I’m always excited to be around him.”
As he reflected on his time in high school, Vancleave acknowledged how much he grew during the four years he has spent at CHS.
“My time at Camas High School has helped me be vulnerable with people, it has helped me become slower to judge,” Vancleave said. “It helped me become more involved with the world around me.”
