Past Awards

2007 Faculty and Staff Awards

Jim Linnell, professor of playwriting at UNM and Associate Dean of the College of Fine Arts, was the KCACTF National Festival Faculty Fellow--Teacher of Playwriting, for his support of playwriting in the Southwest Region of the American College Theatre Festival.

2007 Student Awards

2007 UNM’s Dramatic Writing Program National Award Winners

Leonard Madrid and Don Garcia, both third year MFA writers, were co-winners of the KCACTF Award for Latino Playwrights. Garcia received the award for his play A Kiss for Death. Madrid received the award for his one- act play Perla. Madrid and Garcia were given fellowships to attend the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival in Washington DC. Each award came with a cash prize, membership to the Dramatists Guild, membership to the Playwright's Center, and a fellowship to a summer program.
Madrid's play Perla was also a finalist for the John Cauble short play competition. The four finalists in the competition were given concert readings at the Kennedy Center. Madrid's play was directed and performed by theatre professionals from New York City and Washington DC.

Terry Gomez, a third year student in the MFA dramatic writing program, was recently awarded an American Indian College Fund-Mellon Faculty Career Enhancement Fellowship for the 2007-2008 academic year. The award is given to faculty members of Native American Colleges and Universities who are seeking terminal degrees. The award is for 30,000 dollars a year. Gomez is an instructor at the Institute of American Indian Arts as well as an MFA student in the final year of her program at the University of New Mexico.

Lou Clark received the regional SSDC/KACTF award for Directing. Clark was recognized for directing her thesis play Searching for Calliopeia at UNM's Words Afire Festival. In Washington DC, Clark was in contention with regional directing winners from around the Unites States. She received an honorable mention.

Kristen Simpson's thesis play Four Days in the Delta and Leonard Madrid's play Volver Volver Volver were selected for the University Playwright's Workshop, a program run by the Kennedy Center and Stanford University where a small group of playwrights are selected to have their plays developed with professional theatre artists.

2005-2006

Faculty and Staff Awards

John Malolepsy, Professor, Theatre & Dance:
College of Fine Arts Research and Creative Grant for Scenic Models and Photo Exhibit: Seed project to develop theatrical craft exhibition space for Rodey Theatre upper lobby.

Mary Anne Santos Newhall, Assistant Professor, Theatre & Dance:
College of Fine Arts Research and Creative Grant for Grafting the Vine: European Seeds of Modern Dance that Took Root in the United States and returned to their Home Soil.

Donna Jewell, Assistant Professor, Theatre & Dance:
College of Fine Arts Research and Creative Grant for Ecotone Physical Theatre Performance Tour to Chicago.

Luke Olson, Master Electrician, Theatre & Dance:
College of Fine Arts Career Development Grant toward attending the LDI 2006 Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada.

Stacia Smith, Lecturer II, Theatre & Dance:
College of Fine Arts Career Development Grant toward attendance at the United States Institute Theatrical Technology, Phoenix, Arizona, March 14-17, 2007.

Judy Bennahum, Professor, Theatre & Dance
One of eleven faculty members awarded the designation of Distinguished Professor.

Jennifer Predock-Linnell, Professor, Theatre & Dance
2005 Faculty Achievement Award, UNM Libraries
2006 Bravo Award for Excellence in Dance
2006 Regent's Fellowship

Karen Price
2005 College of Fine Arts Research and Creative Grant

Ginny Wilmerding
Adjunct Teacher of the Year, University of New Mexico
2005 President’s Award, National Dance Association

Student Awards

Congratulations To Theatre & Dance Writing Students Lou Clark, Terry Davis, and Rebecca Orchant, 2006 Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Michael Kanin Playwriting Award National Winners
All the winning plays were performed in UNM’s Words Afire Festival produced by the Dramatic Writing Program in the Theatre & Dance Department in November 2005.

I Sea by Lou Clark

Winner of the Theatre For Youth Award.

The Family Frost by Terry Davis

National Co-winner of the Jean Kennedy Smith Award for plays that address disability.

Secrets And Other Indulgences by Rebecca Orchant

One of Five National Finalists for the John Cauble Short Play Award.

2004 and Previous

Faculty and Staff Awards

Jennifer Predock-Linnell
2002 Outstanding Teacher of the Year

Karen Price
Voted #1 Class at UNM in 2000

Ginny Wilmerding
2004 President’s Award, National Dance Association

Mary Anne Santos Newhall
2004 Lecturer/Adjunct Faculty of the Year
2002 Awarded Fellowship at Yaddo Artist Community (New York)