Aquinas College Year 13 student Lucas Shepherd has been named the second-ever recipient of the FAME Year 13 Performing Arts Scholarship.

Shepherd will receive $5000 to support his tertiary music studies at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology in 2026.

The scholarship – administered by the Acorn Foundation in partnership with Creative Bay of Plenty on behalf of the FAME Trust – recognises an outstanding Western Bay of Plenty student preparing for a future career in the performing arts.

Shepherd has already made an impressive mark on the national arts landscape.

He is a founding member of Beat Street, a Tauranga-based percussion and bucket drumming group that has rapidly gained international attention.

Since launching in April 2024, Beat Street has amassed more than 565,000 online followers and accumulated more than 60 million views across TikTok and Instagram.

Their high-energy performances have led to invitations to perform at major sporting events — including Chiefs Rugby and Auckland FC matches — as well as festivals and community events throughout New Zealand and abroad.

Receiving the scholarship would allow Shepherd to focus even more intently on his craft.

“This scholarship will ease financial pressure, allowing me to focus fully on my studies and community contributions,” he said.

“I’m passionate about growing as a musician and technician, helping enrich New Zealand’s cultural life through performance, education, and innovation. I want to show anything is possible.”

Outside his viral success, Shepherd taught drums locally, chaired the Aquinas College Arts Committee, and was an active volunteer in the community.

He was recently awarded Arts High Honours at school in recognition of his achievements with Beat Street.

In 2026, he will begin the New Zealand Certificate in Music (Level 5) at Toi Ohomai, continuing his pathway toward a career in drumming and sound technology.

Aquinas College staff praised the young musician as “humble, compassionate, incredibly talented and determined to reach goals despite personal barriers,” noting his inspiring commitment to using music as a way to uplift others.

The Acorn Foundation extended its congratulations to Shepherd and said it’s excited to follow his future progress in the performing arts.