USITT MIDWEST 2022-2023 Founders Award
Thomas V. Korder, Awards Committee Chair
In 1995 the Founders Awards were established in honor of those who first chartered the Midwest Regional Section of USITT. The Board of Directors choose to honor them by annually recognizing both a student and a regular member for their service to our Section or for their hard work and enthusiasm in pursuing a career in Technical Theatre. There are two award categories: Student and Section Member. In 2003 the Section begun offering separate awards for High School and Undergraduate students. In 2019 the Midwest Section Board voted to retitle the student award to THE MIKE NIELSEN STUDENT AWARD to honor the memory of Mike Nielsen; a lifelong member of the Section, one of the earliest recipients of the award, and a friend and mentor to generations of young people.
MIKE NIELSEN STUDENT AWARD PROCEDURES
Active Section members may nominate students to receive a monetary award and a one-year membership in the Section. Students may be either High School Seniors or College Undergraduates.
Criteria for nomination are:
- active in a High School or College Technical Theatre program
- intent to pursue a career in Technical Theatre or related field
- students who are nominated need not be a current member of the Section
- students may be nominated more than once for the Student Award as long as they are still active in a High School or College Technical Theatre program and have not received the award previously.
Student nominees will be expected to:
- provide the Founders Award Committee with a current resume
- submit a brief statement of their goals in Technical Theatre
How to Nominate:
- Follow this link to the Google form https://forms.gle/6UAXqfMGCmPcx8nFA
- After completing form hit SUBMIT, a confirmation email will be sent to email address
- It is NOT required, but nominators are encouraged to submit a nomination/recommendation
- The committee will contact the student nominee requesting the information listed
SECTION MEMBER AWARD PROCEDURES
Active Section members may nominate one of their fellows for this award. The award consists of a plaque briefly detailing the member’s contributions to the Midwest Regional Section and a Lifetime membership in the Section. Nominations must be made and seconded by current active members.
Criteria for nomination are:
- an active member of the Section
- outstanding contributions to the Section in the form of participation, growth of the Section, service to the Section and assistance in the achievement of Section goals.
- multiple nominations for the same Section member will be considered as
- Section Members may receive the Member Award more than once if they have made significant additional contributions to the Section beyond what they were nominated for on the previous award.
How to Nominate:
- Secure a second to your Multiple nominations for the same Section member will be considered as seconded.
- Follow the link to the Google form https://forms.gle/Scj3yGv5phKkf8vi8
- After completing form hit SUBMIT, a confirmation email will be sent to email address
NOMINATION DEADLINES
All nominations must be received by JANUARY 12, 2025. Submission of supporting materials by student (current resume and a brief statement of goals) due by FEBRUARY 2, 2025. Awards will be presented at the Midwest Section meeting at the annual USITT Convention, but recipients are not required be there. You may also request a PDF nomination form by contacting Tom Korder at: korderconsulting@gmail.com.
