Baker University’s most accomplished thespians were recognized with several awards May 3 at the theater banquet.
Assistant Professor of Theater Tom Heiman said senior Amanda Luthi walked away with two major awards. She won the Polson Award for “Outstanding Achievements,” and she also won the McCoy Award.
“The McCoy Award is more of a humanitarian award, and it goes to the student that works the best with others and makes the theater a nice place to be,” Heiman said. “Amanda did both.”
Luthi also won “Outstanding Technical Achievement” for her stage management prompt book for “Story Theatre,” which Baker students took to the annual Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival held in January. Luthi was not able to attend the theater festival’s ceremony.
“I had received a certificate letting me know that I had won right after the theater festival, but it was still exciting,” Luthi said.
Another theater student honored was freshman Bob Linebarger, who was given the “Newcomer of the Year” award.
“There were four freshman nominated for the award, and I think we all deserved it,” Linebarger said. “I was surprised that I was chosen.”
Heiman said Linebarger is one of many promising freshman theater students.
“Bob has been a key factor is this year’s theater department,” he said. “He writes and performs skits with the improvisational troop and has been in three out of the four productions this year.”