There are a number of resources available through SIU for undergraduate students including Federal Work-Study Assistantships, Grants, Tuition Waivers, and program Scholarships. Financial aid is also made possible through the Federal Government.
Additionally, the Theater program provides for a variety of honors and recognition for our undergraduates. Some of these carry cash awards.
Undergraduate students are eligible for a variety of financial aid opportunities through the program. Scholarships and/or tuition waivers of varying amounts (ranging from $500 to $1,500) are available on an annual basis (renewable) to undergraduates who demonstrate contributions/potential in the areas of academic ability, creative work, and service to the program:
The Verizon Scholarship
A scholarship (ranging from $500-1500) is awarded annually to a student or students whom the Theater program faculty recognizes as outstanding in both the areas of academics and production.
Applications/Audition/Interview procedures and Deadlines vary. (Application deadlines generally fall in early February.) Theater students should consult the announcement boards or check with the Chair of the Recruitment and Retention Committee. For more information and/or a copy of the “Scholarship/Tuition Wavier Application Form” please refer to the appropriate section of the Undergraduate handbook.
Awards
Additional Honors and Awards for undergraduate theater students
The following awards are also available through the Theater program. Some of these are honors and some carry a cash award. In all cases, the student must apply, either by completing the scholarship application form or be nominated by a member of the Theater program Faculty. In most cases, the selection of the recipients is based on the following criteria:
Scholarship and/or Creative Activity
Involvement in/Service to the program.
Ira Aldridge Award
Awarded to a currently enrolled African American student who has demonstrated leadership potential, participated in productions, University and/or community productions, and who shows competence in his/her chosen area (acting, playwriting, directing, stage management, design, production, etc.).
Archibald McLeod Award for Academic Excellence
Awarded to a junior or senior who has demonstrated excellence in course work with an overall GPA which exceeds 3.25. The award includes a tuition waiver for $100.00 and a certificate presented on Honors Day. This award is made possible through the generous support of Archibald Mcleod’s children, Anne and Peter Koletzke.
Award for Outstanding Service
Awarded to a junior or senior who has demonstrated excellent service to the program through work on committees, with student organizations, has represented the program at various community, university, and program functions.
Award for Excellence in Performance
Awarded to a junior or senior performance student who has demonstrates continued growth in skill, professional attitude and commitment, and achieves a high standard of quality in performance. An appropriate theater text is presented to the recipient on Honors Day.
Mordecai Gorelik Award for Excellence in Scenic Design
Awarded to a graduating senior and/or graduate student, who has demonstrated excellence in scenic design either through the practical application in the design of settings for realized stage productions or through theoretical classroom projects.
Eelin Stewart-Harrison Award for Excellence In Costume Design
Awarded to a graduating senior and/or graduate student who has demonstrated excellence in costume design either through the practical application in the design of costumes for realized stage productions or through theoretical classroom projects. An appropriate theater text is presented to the recipient on Honors Day.
James Moody Excellence in Lighting Design
Awarded to a graduating senior and/or graduate student who has demonstrated excellence in lighting design either through the practical application in the design of lighting for realized stage productions or through theoretical classroom projects. An autographed copy of SIU Alumnus James Moody’s text Concert Lighting and $250.00 Bursars Credit are presented to the recipient on Honors Day. This award is made possible through the generous support of James Moody.
Award for Excellence in Technical Production
Awarded to a graduating senior and/or graduate student who has demonstrated excellence in one or more aspects of technical production including properties, carpentry, technical direction, sound, electrics or stage management. A $200.00 Bursars Credit is presented to the recipient on Honors Day donated by SIU Alumna Shannon Heller.
Carolyn Moe Playwriting Scholarship
A financial award of $1,000 given to a first year Playwriting student. This scholarship is offered every other year.
Christian H. Moe Playwriting Awards (Graduate or Undergraduate)
Awards are given to selected plays written for the stage that demonstrate skillful use of dramatic structure, dramatic questions, on-stage activity, speakable dialogue and crises and climaxes. The selected play must express a particular vision that seems to engage the author in the material whether the play is comic or serious, and which suggests that the author has talent and future growth in the art of playwriting. Awards are made for the following categories:
Best Short Play (approximately 45 pages) - A cash award of $200.00 is presented to the recipient on Honors Day
Best Long Play - A cash award of $250.00 is presented to the recipient on Honors Day
Best Short Play, Honorable Mention (approximately 45 pages) - A cash award of $50.00 is presented to the recipient on Honors Day
Best Long Play, Honorable Mention - A cash award of $50.00 is presented to the recipient on Honors Day.
