Hundreds of high school students, many of whom were dressed to the nines, gathered inside the lobby of the McAllen Performing Arts Center on Wednesday evening. The mood was electric as they anticipated the start of the fifth annual Palm Awards, a celebration of local high school theater. Founded by ​​retired Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD high school theater teachers Michael Alebis and Gilbert Zepeda Jr. in 2017, the awards show offers an opportunity to highlight the efforts of high school students and theater directors as they compete for awards in 25 categories.