Due to KMEA Advocacy efforts over the past few years, KMEA Vice President Craig Manteuffel, Director of Bands at Hays High School, Hays USD #489, was selected by NAfME and The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to attend the National Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network Symposium in Arlington, Virginia on April 6, 2013. The Kennedy Center paid airfare, hotel costs, and symposium registration. Craig attended three Arts Education Advocacy sessions and shared KMEA's Advocacy concepts with Kennedy Center Advocacy staff and other arts leaders from the United States. NAfME nominated three people from three MEA states and fortunately Kansas was one of the three states. The other two states chosen were Indiana and Pennsylvania. KMEA President Avian Bear gave Craig her blessing for attending the symposium and representing KMEA.