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KU honors outstanding theatre and film students, alumni
LAWRENCE — Outstanding students in the theatre and film programs at the University of Kansas were honored earlier this month. The traditional Theatre Stage Supper was May 8 on the Crafton-Preyer Theatre stage, and the 2008-09 Film Awards Spectacular, featuring the announcement of the Tensie Awards, was May 15 at Liberty Hall.
More than $100,000 in scholarships and awards was presented to 62 students, according to John Staniunas, associate professor and chair of the Department of Theatre and Film. Funds for most of the scholarships and awards are managed by KU Endowment, the independent, nonprofit organization serving as the official fundraising and fund-management foundation for KU.
During the Stage Supper, 1999 theatre alumna Kari Wahlgren was announced as the recipient of the Alumni Honor Citation for her work as a voice artist in Los Angeles, including a major role in the animated feature film “Bolt.”
Gordon Hoffman, a 1987 KU alumnus, received the film program’s Alumni Honor Citation. Hoffman is a director and screenwriter based in Hollywood.
Longtime theatre and film staff member Marilyn B. Heath, currently a senior administrative associate, received the department’s Award of Merit for her many years of service to the department. Heath began working for KU in September 1961.
KU Film Works, an organization of student filmmakers, was honored with the Loren Dolezal Community Service Award.
Ann Sitzman, a graduating senior from Prairie Village, was named recipient of the Kilty Kane, the highest honor bestowed by the University Theatre. The annual award recognizes a student leaving the program who has done the most for the University Theatre.
The Kuhlke Humanitarian Award was given to Beth Zupek, a graduating senior from Lawrence.
Other KU theatre and film students receiving awards at the two ceremonies are listed below by hometown, level in school (for spring 2009), major, parents’ names and award.
ALLEN COUNTY
From Iola 66749
Allison Chase, senior, theatre and film major, daughter of Bob and Jacki Chase, Brian Ten Eyck Davis Award.
BARTON COUNTY
From Hoisington 67544
Jacquelyn Koester, sophomore, theatre and Spanish majors, daughter of Richard and Pamela Koester, Patricia Joyce Ellis Drama Scholarship and Loren W. Kennedy Traineeship.
BUTLER COUNTY
From Rose Hill 67133
Bryan A. Morgan, sophomore, film major, son of Ron and Gina Morgan, Charles “Buddy” Rogers Scholarship.
COWLEY COUNTY
From Winfield 67156
Matthew Mendoza, sophomore, film studies and English majors, Sean Ryan Memorial Award.
Devin Schwyhart, freshman, film major, Tensie Award for Documentary for “Poeta.”
DOUGLAS COUNTY
From Lawrence 66044
Jeremy Riggs, graduating senior, theatre major, Tensie Award for Sound for “CatYip.”
From Lawrence 66046
Avery Brow, junior, film major, son of Larry Brown, Berg Family Film Studies Award.
Beth Zupek, graduating senior, theatre major, Glenn Bickle University Theatre Award and Kuhlke Humanitarian Award.
Spencer Sassaman Lott, junior, theatre major, son of Hunter and Nancy Lott of Rochester, Minn., Harley S. Nelson Family Scholarship and Loren W. Kennedy Traineeship.
From Lawrence 66047
Erin Tomkins, sophomore, theatre design major, daughter of Ray Tomkins and Sheila Murphy, David E. Blackwell Scholarship.
From Lawrence 66049
Kitley Jewell, graduating senior, film major, Tensie Award in the drama genre and Best in Show for “Boys Pretending.”
Nathan Towns, junior, film and music composition majors, Tensie Award for Sound for “CatYip.”
FINNEY COUNTY
From Garden City 67846
Nate Selee, sophomore, theatre and film major, son of Scott and Linda Selee, Berg Family Film Studies Award.
HAMILTON COUNTY
From Syracuse 67878
Jon Englert, graduating senior, film major, Tensie Award for Editing for “Train of Thought.”
JOHNSON COUNTY
From Leawood 66224
Tosin Morohunfola, junior, theatre major, son of Kenny and Ajoke Morohunfola, Dorothy and Benjamin Glick Theatre Scholarship, Gerhard Zuther Memorial Award for Dramatic Scriptwriting and Loren W. Kennedy Traineeship.
From Lenexa 66219
Grant Babbitt, junior, film major, son of Gary and Linda Babbitt, Peter and Ann Thompson Undergraduate Film Scholarship.
From Merriam 66202
Rebecca A. Basaure-Carrington, sophomore, film major, daughter of Cindy Basaure, Alexis and Craig Stevens Performing Arts Scholarship.
From Olathe 66062
Cortney K. Fowler, senior, theatre major, daughter of Paula Fowler, Donald and Betty Dixon Scholarship.
From Overland Park 66212
Kayla Higginbotham, junior, film major, daughter of Mark and Teri Higginbotham, Women Studying Film Scholarship.
Derek Sellens, senior, film major, Tensie Award for Humor for “An Even Better Place.”
From Overland Park 66223
Christopher McGilivray, junior, theatre major, son of Paul and Denise McGillivray, Richard Kelton Memorial Scholarship and Loren W. Kennedy Traineeship.
From Prairie Village 66207
Ann Sitzman, graduating senior, theatre major, daughter of Everette Sitzman, Kilty Kane.
From Prairie Village 66208
Tristan Noelle, fall 2008 graduate, film major, Tensie Award for Cinematography for “The Amplesand.”
From Shawnee 66216
Jennifer Grimm, sophomore, theatre design major, daughter of Mary K. Grimm Dyche, Stephanie Ann Smith Memorial Scholarship.
From Stilwell 66085
Matthew Crooks, senior, theatre and English majors, son of Mike Crooks and Nancy Wunderlich, Margaret Bushong and Suzanne Calvin Scholarship.
Michael Simpson, sophomore, film major, son of Peter and Lori Simpson, Sean Ryan Memorial Award.
KEARNEY COUNTY
From Lakin 67860
Chelsie Shipley, graduating senior, theatre major, daughter of Sue and Price Shipley, Bob Findlay Award.
KINGMAN COUNTY
From Kingman 67068
Brock Goetz, graduating senior, film major, Tensie Award for Body of Work.
LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
From Fort Leavenworth 66027
Amy McClung, senior, film major, Tensie Award for Music Video for Point B Dance Studio.
From Lansing 66043
Brett Poe, junior, film major, son of Tom Poe, Peter and Ann Thompson Undergraduate Film Scholarship.
From Leavenworth 66048
Garrett Kelly, junior, theatre and journalism majors, son of Michael and Keyta Kelly, Harley S. Nelson Family Scholarship.
MIAMI COUNTY
From Louisburg 66048
Brittany Barney, sophomore, theatre major, daughter of Andrew and Christie Barney, Margaret Bushong and Suzanne Calvin Scholarship and Loren W. Kennedy Traineeship.
From Osawatomie 66064
Joseph T. Nagle, sophomore, theatre major, son of Bill and Donna Nagle, Allen Crafton Memorial Scholarship, John David Lentz Memorial Scholarship and Loren W. Kennedy Traineeship.
MORRIS COUNTY
From Council Grove 66846
Jake L. Smith, sophomore, theatre and English majors, son of Marc and Molly Smith, Claire Reinhold Scholarship.
SEDGWICK COUNTY
From Goddard 67052
Ashley Hoyle, freshman, theatre major, daughter of Kevin and Kandy Hoyle, Charles “Buddy” Rogers Scholarship.
From Wichita 67206
Tyler Doehring, graduating senior, film major, Tensie Award for Screenplay for “A Masterson.”
SHAWNEE COUNTY
From Topeka 66604
Spencer Hess Holdren, graduating senior, theatre major, son of James and Teresa Turnbull, Shirley and Tom P. Rea Memorial Award.
From Topeka 66606
Grant Turner, senior, film major, Tensie Award in the Experimental genre for “The Amplesand.”
From Topeka 66614
Sara Finney, sophomore, theatre major, daughter of Keith and Lori Finney, Claire Reinhold Scholarship and Clarence Seaver Technical Theatre Scholarship.
Jon Tenholder, graduating senior, film major, Mike Gunter Distinguished Service Award in Film.
ARIZONA
From Scottsdale 85250
Luke Kanter, freshman, theatre major, son of David and Nancy Kanter, Kari Wahlgren Theatre Scholarship.
FLORIDA
From Palm Harbor 34685
Michael A. Graves, doctoral student, film major, son of Elizabeth Graves, Donald and Betty Donald and Betty Dixon Scholarship.
GEORGIA
From Cornelia 30531
Chandra O. Hopkins, doctoral student, theatre major, Ethel Hinds Burch Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant in Theatre Award and Joseph R. Roach Dissertation Research Award.
From Gainesville 30501
Boone J. Hopkins, doctoral student, theatre major, son of Benjie and Marsha Hopkins, Ambrose Saricks Family Scholarship in Theatre.
ILLINOIS
From Carbondale 62901
James Diemer, doctoral student, theatre major, Ethel Hinds Burch Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant in Theatre Award.
IOWA
From Ames 50014
Elizabeth Grim, master’s student, scenography, daughter of Stuart and Lisa Grim, Adah Clarke Hagan Scholarship for Film and Theatre Students.
LOUISIANA
From Baton Rouge 70819
Mary E. Woodson, doctoral student, film major, daughter of Ray and Jeri Woodson, Women Studying Film Scholarship.
MINNESOTA
From Rochester 55906
Spencer Sassaman Lott. SEE DOUGLAS COUNTY
MISSOURI
From Blue Springs 64015
Tammy Keiser, master’s student, scenography, Ethel Hinds Burch Outstanding New Graduate Teaching Assistant in Theatre Award, New Theatre Guild Dodie Myers Brown Scholarship and Clarence Seaver Technical Theatre Scholarship.
From Chesterfield 63005
Ryan Klamen, graduating senior, theatre major, son of Kelly and Suzy Klamen, Bob Findlay Award.
From Kansas City 64116
Emily Herold, junior, film major, daughter of Brett and Connie Herold, Mallory Yund Undergraduate Film Scholarship for Women.
From Raymore 64083
Rochelle Herman, sophomore, theatre and film major, daughter of Linda and Michael Herman, Alexis and Craig Stevens Performing Arts Scholarship and Loren W. Kennedy Traineeship.
NEW YORK
From Almond 14804
Daniel Mauro, master’s student, film major, son of Ronald Mauro, Claire Reinhold Scholarship.
NORTH CAROLINA
From Boone 28607
M. Brian Faucette, doctoral student, film major, Adah Clarke Hagan Scholarship for Film and Theatre Students and Herk Harvey Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant in Film Award.
NORTH DAKOTA
From Fargo 58102
Amy Virginia Buchanan, senior, theatre major, daughter of David and Cindy Buchanan, New Theatre Guild Don Knotts Scholarship.
OHIO
From Bowling Green 43402
Jeff List, doctoral student, theatre major, Patricia Joyce Ellis Drama Scholarship.
From Hillsboro 45133
Rich M. Housh, senior, film major, son of Richard and Jennifer Housh, Adah Clarke Hagan Scholarship for Film and Theatre Students.
OKLAHOMA
From Stillwater 74074
Hannah JoBeth Roark, freshman, undecided major, daughter of Joel and Terri Roark, Andrew and Lily Tsubaki Award for Theatre and Film.
SOUTH CAROLINA
From Sumter 29150
Jocelyn L. Buckner, doctoral student, theatre studies major, daughter of Carolyn F. Buckner, Charles “Buddy” Rogers Scholarship.
TEXAS
From Kingwood 77345
Elizabeth Elliott, junior, theatre major, daughter of Paul and Shannon Elliott, Friends of the Theatre Scholarship in Memory of Reese Saricks and Loren W. Kennedy Traineeship.
From Sachse 75048
Elizabeth Banks, master’s student, scenography, daughter of David Banks, Friends of the Theatre Scholarship in Memory of Reese Saricks.
From Valley Mills 76689
Caleb Stroman, master’s student, scenography major, Adah Clarke Hagan Scholarship for Film and Theatre Students.
WASHINGTON
From Bellingham 98227
Muriel Green, graduating senior, film major, Mike Gunter Distinguished Service Award in Film.
WISCONSIN
From Eau Claire 54701
Juli Pitzer, doctoral student, film major, daughter of Sheri Holtey, Charles “Buddy” Rogers Scholarship and Tensie Award for Animation for “Mr. Beady Eye.”
MACEDONIA
From Skopje
Sandra Ristovska, junior, film major, daughter of Snezana Ristovska, Mark Amin Scholarship in Film and Harley S. Nelson Family Scholarship.
SOUTH KOREA
From Kyunggi-do
Rona Sohn, doctoral student, film major, daughter of Sei-Kwan Sohn, Donald and Betty Dixon Scholarship.
From Seoul
Hun Choi, doctoral student, theatre major, Ethel Hinds Burch Outstanding New Graduate Teaching Assistant in Theatre Award.
TANZANIA
From Dar-es-Salaam
Mona Mwakalinga, doctoral student, film studies major, Claire Reinhold Scholarship.
Abdulkarim Nkrumbih, senior, film major, son of Fadhil S. Nkrumbih, Alexis and Craig Stevens Performing Arts Scholarship.
VENEZUELA
From Caracas
Carlos D. Pérez Beltrán, graduating senior, journalism and theatre and film majors, son of Olga Pérez Beltrán, Tensie Award for Directing for “REC.”
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