Mill Valley senior Barron Fox still remembers the moment the stage first found him — a small 4-H skit, a fifth grader playing Julius Caesar's son, discovering something that would soon become much more than a hobby.

Years later, it has become his platform.

Fox, a standout in both Speech and Drama at Mill Valley, has been named a Capitol Federal® True Blue® Student of the Week, an honor that reflects not just his accomplishments on stage, but the wide-ranging impact he’s made across his school and community.

“I thought it was kind of cool,” Fox said of that first performance. “Then I got into a theater club over the summer and I’ve been doing school productions ever since. I like performing the most and it is fun to have that moment where the audience can forget their worries and just focus on the show for a few hours. I also like just showcasing a craft and an art form, which is what drama is."

From that beginning, Fox has built one of the more decorated and involved student resumes in the state.

A reigning Class 6A state champion in humorous interpretation, Fox is preparing for another run at the forensics state tournament this Saturday at Free State High School. He’s no stranger to the spotlight — last season he also placed third in dramatic interpretation and qualified for two national tournaments, representing both Mill Valley and Kansas on a bigger stage.

But for Fox, the appeal of forensics goes beyond trophies.
 

“Forensics is like track and field of non-athletic events,” he said. “It’s just you in a room with a judge, and you convince that judge of your story. I’m a competitive person — I hate to say it, but I think I like forensics more than I like theater.”

Still, theater remains the heartbeat of his high school experience.

Whether performing, managing or directing, Fox has done just about everything in the Mill Valley drama department. He’s taken on roles ranging from Nick Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream to stage manager in Our Town, and even stepped into leadership roles behind the scenes.

This spring, he added another milestone — fully directing a production of The Importance of Being Earnest.

"You have to sit down a few days in advance and read the entire script and have to think about all the characters motivations," Fox said. "It was different, because instead of having to figure out one character like I normally do, I had to figure out all the characters. Then I had to tell the actor what it was. It was just interesting to look at all the different characters and what their movements would be.  

Mill Valley drama teacher Jon Copeland said Fox’s growth over four years has been remarkable.

“Barron has been a very important member of the drama department for all four years,” Copeland said. “He not only understands how to direct a script, but he also is a great leader of peers, treating them with respect and kindness.”

 

That leadership extends well beyond the stage.

Fox serves as president of the National Honor Society and is involved in multiple honor societies, while also taking on leadership roles as secretary of KAY and Youth for Refugees. A decade-long participant in 4-H, he credits those experiences with helping shape both his confidence and his desire to serve.

“I like getting involved with community service and assist wherever I can,” Fox said.

Balancing all of it hasn’t come easy.

Late nights, packed schedules and quick homework sessions backstage have become routine. During last year’s busy stretch, Fox juggled a theater production and preparing for a forensics state competition and AP exams all at once.

“It’s a balancing act,” he said. “You have to sacrifice a lot.”

That commitment recently earned him another prestigious honor as a KSHSAA and Capitol Federal® True Blue® Scholarship winner, one of just 35 students statewide recognized across all activities.

Now, with one final postseason ahead in forensics, Fox is focused less on individual accolades and more on the team.

“I’m going in with no pressure,” he said. “I’ve had my time to be rewarded. I’m hoping to contribute enough to help the team win state.”

After graduation, Fox plans to attend the University of Kansas and pursue a degree in chemistry on a pre-med track — a path that will likely pull him away from the stage.

That reality hasn’t been lost on him.

"Obviously I have had my times at being sad about it, but as of right now, I am in a good place," Fox ssaid. "I haven’t said goodbye to forensics because we have state coming up and then nationals. That will be hard goodbye for me. As for as theater goes, I feel like I am ready to move on. I know that if I want to do community theater or do something at KU, I could. I have done about everything I could do here. I have directed, student-directed, I have starred and been in the ensemble. I have done it all. I put a bow on it all, but it is time to move on and try other things."

But before that final curtain call, there’s still one more performance left — and for Barron Fox, the stage has never been brighter.