Endowments and Awards

The School of Theatre

Mona Shibley Bird Memorial Scholarship
This scholarship was set up for the late Raymond Shibley (’47 B.S. Commercial Chem.) in memory of his family and to honor his sister, Mona Shibley Bird (’44 B.A. Psychology). Consideration will be given to theatre major undergraduate students concentrating in the areas of acting or theatre dancing who possess and display superior talent.

Susan Browning Theatre Scholarship
Established by Judith Brown to provide recognition and financial assistance to outstanding seniors enrolled in the School of Theatre who demonstrate academic excellence by achieving a minimum 3.25 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) and have demonstrated outstanding commitment through active participation in any phase of School of Theatre productions.

Kenton H. Broyles Trustee Scholarship in the College of Arts and Architecture
Established by Kenton H. Broyles to recognize undergraduate students enrolled in the College of Arts and Architecture at The Pennsylvania State University who have demonstrated a financial need, with first preference given to students enrolled in the musical theatre major.

James Howard and Barbara Frizzell Campbell Scholarship in Visual Arts and Theatre
In memory of the late James Howard Campbell (’40 B.A. Commerce and Finance) and Barbara Frizzell Campbell, by Ellen Campbell (’80 A.D. Liberal Arts and ’03 M.Ed. Curriculum and Instruction) and James F. Campbell (’72 B.S. Law Enforcement and Corrections) to provide recognition to undergraduate students majoring in visual arts or theatre.

Irvin and Lois E. Cohen Fund for the School of Theatre
Established by Irvin Cohen (’50 B.A. Arts & Letters) and Lois Cohen (’49 B.S. Home Econ.) to provide monies for the School of Theatre to enhance its education services and outreach and to support the School’s theatrical productions, including Pennsylvania Centre Stage and the University Resident Theatre Company, by providing monies that can be used to keep theatre shows accessible and affordable, and to maintain the highest artistic quality.

Margaret M. and George A. Downsbrough Endowment for Pennsylvania Centre Stage
Established by the estate of George A. Downsbrough to provide monies to keep Pennsylvania Centre Stage accessible and affordable, to enhance its educational services and outreach, and to maintain the highest artistic quality.

Manuel Duque Award
Established by Gary Silow ('72 B.A. Theatre) and family to honor Professor Emeritus Manuel Duque who taught acting and scene study in the School of Theatre from 1970 to 1981 and 1989 to 1996. Consideration will be given to a full-time undergraduate or graduate student enrolled in the School of Theatre who has achieved superior academic records or who has demonstrated a commitment to the field of acting.

Mack Emmert Trustee Scholarship in the College of Arts and Architecture
Established by Mackey Emmert (’49 B.A. Liberal Arts) to recognize undergraduate students enrolled in the College of Arts and Architecture at The Pennsylvania State University who have demonstrated a financial need, with first preference given to students enrolled in the theatre major.

Frances Foster Award in Theatre
Established by Professor Charles Dumas and his wife Josephine Dumas (’98 M.A. Telecommunications and ’02 Ph.D. Mass Communcations) in memory of the late actress Frances Foster to recognize outstanding achievement by a student who manifests promise of academic success and whose ethnic, cultural and/or national background contribute to the diversity of the student body. Consideration will be given to full-time students in the School of Theatre pursuing a bachelor of arts or a bachelor of fine arts degree. Preference will be given to those students who have a major or minor in the Department of African/African American Studies, and to the extent permitted by law, who are African-American students.

French Undergraduate Award in Theatre
Established by retired faculty member Margaret “Peg” French (’81 M.F.A. Theatre Arts) and Dr. Joseph French to recognize undergraduate third-year students in the theatre program who demonstrate outstanding commitment to performance and who participate fully in all aspects of training as performance students, with first preference given to female students.

Blake and Linda Gall Trustee Matching Scholarship in the College of Arts and Architecture
Established by Blake D. and Linda J. Gall to recognize undergraduate students enrolled in the College of Arts and Architecture who have demonstrated a financial need, with first preference given to students enrolled in the musical theatre major.

Simeon and Elizabeth Gallu Scholarship
The late Sam Gallu (’40 B.S. Arts and Letters) established this scholarship in memory of his parents, Simeon and Elizabeth Gallu. Sam became a writer and producer for television, radio, and a playwright whose credits include Give ‘Em Hell Harry. Consideration will be given to incoming first-year students possessing outstanding and exceptional talent, dedication to their goal of a professional musical, theatrical, or artistic career, and display total dedication to this goal.

Anne Gibson Award for Professional Development in Theatre Design and Technology
Established by Anne Gibson, professor emeritus of theatre and former head of the master of fine arts design program, to celebrate and enhance professional potential in an exemplary student of theatre design or technology. Consideration will be given to finishing graduate students in the School of Theatre, design or technology discipline.

James E. Hess and Suzanne Scurfield Hess Endowment for the University Resident Theatre Company
Established by the late James Hess (í51 B.S. Electrical Engineering) and the late Suzanne Scurfield Hess ('51 B.S. and '53 M.Ed. Music Ed.) to provide discretionary funds for use by URTC.

Arlene and E. Z. Jackson Scholarship in Musical Theatre
Established by Blake D. and Linda J. Gall to provide recognition and financial assistance to outstanding undergraduate students enrolled in the Musical Theatre major in the College of Arts and Architecture who have achieved superior academic records and who have a demonstrated financial need.

Honey and Bill Jaffe Director’s Endowment for Pennsylvania Centre Stage
Established by William A. Jaffe (’60 B.A. Journalism) and Honey Jaffe to provide monies to keep Pennsylvania Centre Stage accessible and affordable, to enhance its educational services and outreach, and to maintain the highest artistic quality.

Mabel Reed Knight Scholarship
Established from the estate of Mabel Reed Knight to honor Arthur C. Cloetingh, former director of the Penn State Players. Consideration will be given to full-time undergraduate and graduate students enrolled or planning to enroll in the disciplines of the School of Theatre.

Robert E. Leonard Award
Established by Dan Carter, director of the School of Theatre, to honor Professor Emeritus Robert E. Leonard and to recognize a well-rounded, multi-talented student who is enrolled in the School of Theatre. Consideration will be given to full-time students in the School of Theatre with an outstanding academic record.

Willie Leone Endowed Scholarship Fund in Music Theatre
Established by John Leone (’56 B.S. Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering) and Willie Leone, his wife, to recognize full-time undergraduate students with majors in musical theatre, with first preference given to students particularly talented in the area of dance.

Wyllis Leonhard Endowment for Music and Dance
Established by the late William Leonhard (’36 B.S. Electrical Engineering) and his wife, Wyllis Leonhard, to attract, enroll, train, retain and provide a living experience in “dance” leading to a career in that exciting field. Consideration will be given to undergraduate students enrolled in the School of Theatre, musical theatre program.

Lethbridge-Jackson Awards
Established by the late Jackson Lethbridge (’92 M.A. Theatre Arts) in memory of his parents, Guy S. Lethbridge and Edna M. Lethbridge, and his aunt, May V. Jackson, to recognize full-time second- third- and fourth-year undergraduate students enrolled in the School of Theatre who have exhibited some exemplary achievement within their school.

Helen and Lowell Manfull Theatre Scholarship
Established by the late Lowell L. Manfull and Helen A. Manfull. Lowell Manfull taught theatre history, dramatic theory, criticism, and literature in the School of Theatre from 1965 to 1992. Helen Manfull taught introduction to acting, theatre for children, creative drama, and women in theatre in the School of Theatre from 1969 to 1996. Provides recognition to outstanding juniors enrolled in the School of Theatre in the College of Arts and Architecture.

Manfull Graduate Award for Academic Excellence in Theatre
Honoring the late Lowell L. Manfull and Helen A. Manfull. Lowell Manfull taught theatre history, dramatic theory, criticism, and literature in the School of Theatre from 1965 to 1992. Helen Manfull taught introduction to acting, theatre for children, creative drama, and women in theatre in the School of Theatre from 1969 to 1996. Consideration will be given to outstanding academic accomplishment by a student graduating with a masters of fine arts or to a graduate student completing their second year and enrolled in the School of Theatre.

Mattie C. and A. Laura Mateer Theatre Artist-in-Residence Fund
Established by A. Laura Mateer in memory of her late husband, M.C. “Mattie” Mateer (’22 B.A. Commerce and Finance), to provide program support monies to sponsor visiting professional theatre artists to the University to enhance and enrich the academic and cultural resources of the campus and surrounding area and to encourage and identify excellence in the theatre arts.

Musical Theatre Endowment Fund
Anonymous planned giving to support the program and may include scholarships and awards to undergraduate students enrolled in the musical theatre program.

Nagle Family Endowment for Musical Theatre
Established by Arthur J. Nagle (’61 B.A. Arts and Letters) and Paige L. Nagle as program support for the musical theatre program to provide monies for visiting artists and professors, new works, academic travel, and scholarships.

Dorothy B. O’Connor Endowed Scholarship Fund in Music Theatre
Established by Dorothy B. O’Connor and her late husband, John C. O’Connor (’38 B.S. Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering), to recognize talented full-time undergraduate students enrolled in the musical theatre program within the School of Theatre with first preference to those proficient in dance.

Pennsylvania Centre Stage Endowment
Established by the late A. Laura Mateer and contributions made by the Class of 1935, to provide supplemental support monies for internship opportunities for Penn State students, to increase the number of professionals and defray rising production costs.

Irene Richards Memorial Scholarship
Established in memory of Irene Richards, mother of Kurt Richards. Kurt Richards (’36 B.A. Education), known as Jonathan Kidd, was an actor on Broadway, on television, and in the movies. Consideration will be given to full-time second-year theatre majors demonstrating talent and good study habits during his or her first-year.

Oliver Smith American Design Award
Established by Dan Carter, director of the School of Theatre, to honor Oliver Smith ('39 B.A. Liberal Arts), a theatrical scenic designer, educator, and producer, as well as to recognize a well-rounded, multi-talented student who is enrolled in the School of Theatre. Consideration will be given to full-time students in the School of Theatre with an outstanding academic record.

Graham B. and Sandra K. Spanier Student Development Fund for the Musical Theatre Program
Established by Penn State President Graham B. Spanier and his wife, Sandra K. Spanier (’76 M.A. and ’81 Ph.D., English), as support for student needs and expenses as they arise, including, but not limited to, scholarships, student travel, costume purchase, professional performance, tickets and personal expenses related to learning about, improving upon and experiencing the craft of musical theatre.

Stewart Graduate Award in Theatrical Design Technology and Management
Established by Jill Stewart (’88 B.S. Marketing and ’90 M.A. Theatre Arts) and husband, Frederick Stewart (’91 M.F.A. Theatre Arts), to honor and recognize outstanding achievement by a design technology/management student who is enrolled in the School of Theatre. Consideration will be given to full-time graduate students entering their last year of graduate work, preference given to those emphasizing in design technology and/or theatre management.

Theatre 100 Undergraduate Award
Established by Annie McGregor through royalties garnered from the THEA 100 textbook to recognize outstanding achievement by an undergraduate student who has achieved second-year status, who is enrolled in the School of Theatre in the College of Arts and Architecture at The Pennsylvania State University.

Phyllis K. Williams Endowed Scholarship Fund Honoring the State College Woman’s Club
In memory of Phyllis K. Williams by her husband, Dr. Eugene C. Williams, to recognize full-time students majoring in the performing arts (music and/or theatre).