By learning a wide range of areas an individual will have the skills to think critically about their experience and their relationship to the world and will be able to put those ideas in cultural, historical, and social contexts. Achievement of knowledge is reflected in a traditional grade system at the University of Vermont. Achieving a high grade point average not only serves as a symbol of gained knowledge but also positions students for future studies and opportunities.
The College of Arts and Sciences honors programs are a reminder of the pursuit of academic excellence.
George B. Bryan Award for Scholarship
The program instituted the George B. Bryan Award for scholarship to reflect its belief that sound theatre practice is grounded in a firm grasp of theatre history, literature, and theory. To that end, it recognizes that program major or minor whose scholarly work reflects high achievement through effective research techniques, exemplary writing skills, and keen analytical insight. A student whose average in theatre courses is 3.0 or better is eligible for consideration for the award, but that is not the only criterion. Of particular importance is the student's performance in the history and criticism courses of the program, but the student's cumulative grade point average is also weighed. As in other areas of theatrical activity, the program stresses the process as well as the product of scholarly endeavors. The award is determined by a majority vote of the faculty, which may decide to withhold it in any year or years.
Recipients of the George B. Bryan Award for Scholarship:
- 1986 - Eben Young
- 1987 - Mary Neudocker
- 1988 - Elizabeth R. Reitz
- 1989 - Angela Moskowitz
- 1990 - Jerrilyn L. Miller
- 1991 - Stacey L. Gottlieb
- 1992 - Karl W. Steen
- 1994 - Scott A. Edwards
- 1995 - Stephanie A. Roy, Katherine L. Workum
- 1996 - Christopher I. Bartlett
- 1997 - Jennifer A. McNicholas
- 1998 - Gregory P. Steen
- 2000 - John D. Morton
- 2001 - Jaime L. Gray
- 2002 - Nancy A. Jarchow
- 2003 - Cameron Bradley
- 2004 - Alyssa R. Leach, Melissa H. Wyman
- 2005 - Molly A. Cameron
- 2006 - Leigh M. Branson
- 2007 - Caitlin A. Bayer, Margaret A. Contompasis
- 2008 - Max M. Mondi
- 2009 - Bretton J. Reis
- 2010 - Anne K. Stauffer
- 2001 - Aline M. Nocera
- 2012 - Alex R. Koch
- 2013 - Ryan Howland
- 2014 - Kody Grassett
- 2015 - Alyssa Korol
- 2016 - Jeff Renaud
- 2017 - Jace Jameson
- 2018 - Siera Carusone
- 2019 - Katelyn Paddock
- 2020 - Emma Cashman
- 2021 - Julia Kitonis
- 2022 - Claire Johnston
- 2023 - Cole Hathaway
Outstanding Senior in Theatre Award
The Outstanding Senior in Theatre Award is presented to that theatre major or minor who has demonstrated competence in and enthusiasm for several areas of theatrical production.
The recipient of this award will have provided substantial evidence of his/her understanding of the important interrelationships that exist between all aspects of theatrical production.
A combination of quality work in the classroom (minimum G.P.A. of 3.0 overall) and production are the prerequisites for consideration for this recognition. The recipient of this award is nominated by members of the faculty and staff of the UVM Theatre and is selected by a majority vote of those same individuals.
This award is given only when an individual who meets the above criteria is present in the program. In addition to the University Awards, the program offers several additional awards.
Recipients of the Outstanding Senior in Theatre Award:
- 2000 - Stephanie Melican, Kate Zaffis
- 2001 - Bartolo Cannizzaro
- 2002 - Corinn W. McCarthy
- 2003 - Erin Fehr
- 2004 - Maryann Carlson, Robyn King
- 2005 - Emily Ginter, Maura Neff
- 2006 - Theodore W. Szadzinski
- 2007 - Aaron D. Robinson
- 2008 - Jessica M. Hodge
- 2009 - Lauren C. Glover
- 2010 - Joshua M. Clarke
- 2011 - Dylan M. Friedman, Andrea W. Underhill
- 2012 - Hannah Brosnan
- 2013 - Mia Haiman
- 2014 - Rivka Kelly
- 2015 - Cato Crumbley, Marykate Scanlon
- 2016 - Kelsey Vivian
- 2017 - Caroline Dababneh, Rosalind Isquith
- 2018 - Stephen Indrisano
- 2019 - Caitlin Durkin
- 2020 - Caleb Chew, Katelyn Paddock
- 2021 - Julia Sioss
- 2022 - Maggie McCloskey, Celeste Piette
Honorable Mention - Josh Huffman - 2023 - Claire Johnston, Isabel Martine
Edward J. Feidner
The Edward J. Feidner Award is presented to deserving undergraduate theatre majors to help defray his/her educational expenses. The recipient, who shall be in his or her junior year, should be selected on the basis of academic merit having no less than a 3.0 overall GPA, and significant involvement in more than one area of the Program of Theatre productions gained through involvement outside of course requirements. Special consideration will be given to those students who have demonstrated an affinity for the works of William Shakespeare. Where appropriate, financial need may also be considered.
Recipients of the Edward J. Feidner Award
- 2003 - Sarah Cohen
- 2004 - Emily Ginter
- 2005 - Theodore W. Szadzinski, Will Todisco
- 2006 - Caitlin A. Bayer
- 2007 - Jessica M. Hodge
- 2008 - Bretton John Reis
- 2009 - Matthew J. Trollinger
- 2010 - Samuel A. Durant Hunter, Aline M. Nocera, Andrea W. Underhill
- 2011 - Alex R. Koch
- 2012 - Grace H. Trapnell
- 2013 - Kody Grassett
- 2014 - Cato Crumbley, Marykate Scanlon
- 2015 - Elizabeth Callahan
- 2016 - Caroline Dababneh
- 2017 - Caitlin Durkin
- 2018 - Katherine Reid, Ian Walls
- 2019 - Katelyn Paddock, Caleb Chew
- 2020 - Isabella Lombardo, Julia Sioss
- 2021 - Maddie Barnes
- 2022 - B.K. Bady-Kaye, Charlotte Looby
- 2023 - Maddie Leitch
The William M. Schenk Award for Technical Excellence
This award is given to a student who demonstrates excellence or the potential of excellence in one or more of the following areas of production (in this order of priority):
- Lighting Design
- Scenery Design
- Technical Production
The William M. Schenk Award for Technical Excellence is awarded annually to a junior theatre major who, in addition to the criteria mentioned above, has at least a 3.0 cumulative overall grade point average and has demonstrated a sincere interest in all areas of theatre production and education. It is understood that this award will be given only when there is a student who meets these qualifications and demonstrates existing merit.
Recipients of the William M. Schenk Award for Technical Excellence
- 2003 - Lauren Stoler
- 2004 - Maura Neff
- 2005 - Jessica Pescosolido
- 2006 - Aaron D. Robinson
- 2007 - Emily C. Hayes
- 2008 - Lauren Glover
- 2009 - Dirk J. Rodricks
- 2010 - Dylan M. Friedman
- 2011 - Hannah B. Brosnan
- 2012 - Mia S. Haiman, David M. Luongo
- 2013 - Rivka Kelly
- 2015 - Jesse Cannon, Kelsey Vivian
- 2016 - Jace Jameson, Rozy Isquith
- 2017 - Stephan Indrisano
- 2018 - McKenna Black
- 2019 - Jordan Tanneberger
- 2020 - No Award Given
- 2021 - Sam Zisk
- 2022 - Jackie Lemieux
- 2023 - Julia Moriarty
The Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee Award
Professor Jennifer Cover, the first African-American woman hired and tenured by the Program of Theatre, created this award in 1981 to be presented to a student who has made an outstanding contribution to enriching multiculturalism in theatre at the University of Vermont. In reference to its namesake, this award is given to an individual who embodies respect for heritage, community, and education in the arts. Sophomore status or above.
Recipients of the Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee Award
- 2005 - Samantha D. Robin
- 2007 - Samantha D. Robin
- 2008 - Erika L. Rivera
- 2009 - Christopher A. Dickerson
- 2011 - Ivy Buena
- 2012 - Stephen A. Skibicki
- 2013 - Tiesha Adams
- 2014 - Tiesha Adams
- 2016 - Oak Horton
- 2018 - Ian Walls
- 2019 - Charlotte Looby
- 2020 - No Award Given
- 2021 - No Award Given
- 2022 - No Award Given
- 2023 - No Award Given
Martin Thaler Award for Excellence in Costume Design and Costume Construction
The Martin Thaler Award for Excellence in Costume Design and Costume Construction (originally the Miriam Zadek Award) was created to honor both the senior student who has demonstrated excellence in costume research, design, and construction, and the woman for whom the award was originally named. It was Miriam Zadek's wish that, upon his retirement, the award be renamed for Martin Thaler. Professor Thaler retired after the fall semester in 2022.
Born the only hearing child in a family of three sisters and familiar with overcoming obstacles to positive communication, Miriam Zadek defied the limitations of social roles of the time and went on to receive her Master of Arts in Social Work in 1952. In 1986, while working for the Hearing and Speech Agency of Baltimore, MD, she founded the Centralized Interpreter Referral Service, which continues to serve the needs of thousands of people annually. With her ever-present passion for learning, she remains a shining example of what students can achieve when they set extraordinary goals for themselves and work tirelessly to attain them. She continues to be an inspiration to generations of young people who are faced with physical, emotional, and academic challenges that test and strengthen them.
Recipients of the Miriam Zadek Award for Excellence in Costume Design and Costume Construction
- 2006 - Jessica N. Pescosolido
- 2007 - Emily A. Dorwart
- 2008 - Allison M. Ziegler, Jessica Ziegler
- 2009 - Calvin D. W. Utter
- 2011 - Jamee K. Sherwin
- 2012 - Kate J. Fulop
- 2013 - Erica Coggio
- 2014 - Hope Salvan
- 2015 - Alyssa Korol
- 2016 - Peyton Brandt
- 2017 - Emma Tait
- 2018 - Emily Thibodeau
- 2019 - Audrey Wilbur, Christian DeKett
- 2020 - Charlotte Looby, Audrey Wilber
- 2021 - Daisy Powers, Audrey Wilbur
- 2022 - Daisy Powers
Recipients of the Martin Thaler Award for Excellence in Costume Design and Costume Construction:
2023 - Mac Weaver
The Billy Taggart Award
The Billy Taggart Award was established in 1979 by Wilnetta Taggart. Wilnetta Sproul Taggart began her association with UVM in 1922 and started a new era of distinguished theatrical work. Mrs. Taggart's first UVM production was mounted in 1923, and for the rest of the decade, her talents graced numerous presentations. Between 1932 and 1942, she directed or supervised all student shows at the university. The stained-glass window depicting the coat of arms of the Booth family of actors that graces the north stairwell in the Royall Tyler Theatre is a memorial to her vital contributions to the university's artistic environment. The intent of the award, as established in her will, is to acknowledge the "best performance" by a student in a UVM production.
Recipients of the Billy Taggart Award
- 2014 - Andrew Fusco
- 2015 - Aiden Holding
- 2016 - Peter Hiebert
- 2017 - Katherine Reid
- 2018 - Christian DeKett
- 2019 - Caleb Chew
- 2020 - The cast of The Wolves, Maddie Barnes, Emma Cashman, Isabella Lombardo, Maggie Lucas, Katelyn Paddock, Celeste Piette, Megan Rose, Julia Sioss, Erin Tevnan, Meg Young
- 2021 - The cast of An Enemy of the People - Maddie Barnes, Jack DeLorenzo, Ella Kenny, Lyndsey Lawrence, Eamon Lynch, JT McAllister, Erin Tevnan, Vishal Vijayakumar
- 2022 - Maddie Barnes, Claire Johnston
- 2023 - JT McCallister
Outstanding Theatre Minor Award
This award is given to a graduating senior who has high academic achievement and has made an outstanding contribution to theatre at UVM. (created in 2022)
- 2022 - Jack DeLorenzo
- 2023 - Lily Coleman
Outstanding Ensemble Acting Award
Awarded in years when a number of performers in a production demonstrate exceptional craft, collaboration, and achievement in ensemble acting.
- 2023 - Cole Hathaway, Matt Haverty & JT McCallister for work as the brothers Matt, Jake & Drew in Straight White Men.
Outstanding Achievement in Stage Management Award
Established in 2023, this award acknowledges the outstanding contributions to the program's production season through stage management.
- 2023 - Acadia Johnson, Jackie Lemieux, Julia Moriarty, Shannon Smith
Outstanding Program Collaborator Award
Established in 2023, this award honors a senior theatre major who demonstrates outstanding commitment to collaborative values, community building, peer mentorship, and leadership within the program, both in the classroom and in production meetings.
- 2023 - Natalee Garen
UVM Student Dance Awards
Presented annually by the UVM Program in Music and Dance (up until 2019)
Presented annually by the Program in Theatre and Dance (from 2020 forward)
Outstanding Senior in Dance
(Created in 2011)
- 2011 – Annie Brady, Christina Moore
- 2012 – Andrea Pack
- 2013 – Hannah Katz, Michelle Marion, Kayla West
- 2014 – Caitlin Rae Dalere, Laura Gordon
- 2015 – Carolyn Connor, Erica Raff
- 2016 – Sarah Macdonald, Olivia Malone
- 2017 – Ryan Kabilian, Jennifer Powers
- 2018 – Hannah Loughlin
- 2019 – Blair Bean
- 2020 – Mickenzie Zadworny
- 2021 – Zoey November, Chloe Schafer
- 2022 - Katie Corkum
- 2023 - Erin Sullivan
Outstanding Choreography/Performance Award
(Created in 2015)
- 2015 – Carolyn McCarthy, Chanel Simmons
- 2016 – Mollie Morgan
- 2017 – Mollie Morgan
- 2018 – Jieru Chen, Anna Martone
- 2019 – Anna Gibson, Meghan McClure
- 2020 – Katie Corkum, Chloe Schafer
- 2021 – Claire Cook
- 2022 - Isabel Hansen
- 2023 - Jordan Officer
Outstanding Dance Minor Award
(created in 2022)
- 2022 - Sarah Wasserman
- 2023 - Emily Paribello