Undergraduate Awards & Scholarships
Each spring, awards carrying modest financial stipends are awarded to students of high achievement in theatre studies and production. Selections are made by the faculty of the Department of Theatre with input from student advisory groups. One of the awards, the Jack Berman Award, is for a junior student, the remaining three for seniors. Though an effort is made to distribute the senior awards to students representing different sub-specializations, there is no mandate to guarantee area representation. The description of each award is listed below.
Annual Awards
The Jack Berman Award
A $100 cash award. Endowed by Mr. Jack Berman and given for the first time in 1978, it is awarded to an outstanding third-year (junior) undergraduate student whose record of service and achievement creates an expectation of significant contributions to the Department and the University during the student's senior year; may be awarded in either the performance or production areas. The recipient is selected by the faculty of the Theatre Depart.
Foundation Award for Creative Work in the Fine Arts - Theatre
A $100 cash award. Given to a senior student for outstanding creative or scholarly achievement; may be awarded for a single significant project or as recognition of continued excellence over several semesters of theatre participation; determined by the Theatre faculty.
Theatre Department Award
Don A. Watters Award
A $100 cash award funded by a committee which administers the Don A. Watters Scholarship Fund. Mr. Watters, professor of theatre and chairman of the Division of Humanities, died on October 13, 1968. Awarded by the faculty of the Department of Theatre to a senior student in recognition of outstanding service or achievement in theatre. Normally awarded for cumulative achievement rather than for a single project.
Scholarships
John and Vi Bielenberg Scholarship
The John and Vi Bielenberg Theatre Scholarship was established by friends and colleagues in 1997 in honor of Professor Bielenberg's retirement. The scholarship is awarded to a sophomore or junior theatre major who demonstrates exceptional promise in the field of scenic, costume or lighting design and may be awarded twice to the same individual. Selection is made by the faculty of the Department of Theatre upon recommendation by the Department's Design/Technical Committee.
Friar's Foundation Scholarship
Each year through the generosity of the Friars Foundation of New York and a matching donor, the Department distributes up to $5,000 in scholarship awards to outstanding theatre students who, following the Friars' dictates, are considered to have the potential to make significant contributions to the entertainment industry/performing arts - drama, music, and/or theatre design. Selection made by entire Theatre Faculty.
