Two GWC students win American College Theater Festival Irene Ryan Recognition

From left to right: Devon Suraco, Shaun Ausmus, Nick Slimmer, Christian Navarro, Brigham Hughes, Matthew Muggia, Alex Vazquez, Brock Joseph

Congratulations to Golden West College student actors Brock Joseph (Juror #8) and Thomas Trinity (Juror #10) for being named nominees for the Kennedy Center/Irene Ryan Acting Scholarships for their performances in the recent Golden West College Theater Arts department production of TWELVE ANGRY MEN. These two actors are now eligible to attend the regional ACTF festival (held in Los Angeles in February 2013) to compete for an Irene Ryan scholarship and to proudly place the words Irene Ryan Award on their acting resumes next to this production.

Since 1972, the Irene Ryan Foundation of Encino, California, has awarded scholarships to the outstanding student performers at each regional festival. These scholarships are made possible by the generosity of the late Irene Ryan who is best remembered for her portrayal of the lovable and feisty ‘Granny Clampett’ in The Beverly Hillbillies. All student actors in both Participating and Associate productions are eligible for consideration for these $500 regional scholarships.

“I am particularly proud of the achievements of the entire cast and crew as well as the efforts of these two fine actors,” said Martie Ramm Engle, Director/Choreographer, GWC Associate Professor.

Started in 1969 by Roger L. Stevens, the Kennedy Center’s founding chairman, the Kennedy Center American College Theater (KCACTF) is a national theater program involving 18,000 students from colleges and universities nationwide, which has served as a catalyst in improving the quality of college theater in the United States. The KCACTF has grown into a network of more than 600 academic institutions throughout the country, where theater departments and student artists showcase their work and receive outside assessment by KCACTF respondents.