On August 6 Leialoha Barnes, or Kayda Cruz to the acting industry, returned from a six week session at New York’s top acting studio, Micheal Howard Studios.

Cruz, an Albion local and junior at Boone Central High School, spent her summer sharpening her techniques and forming bonds with fellow actors and actresses in her industry, but how did she get here?

In the summer of 2025, Cruz attended the Inte…