Departmental Awards
Presented to graduate students who over the academic year or over the course of their time in the department have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to performance practice and scholarship. Students are nominated by Performance Studies Professors.
Presented to an outstanding graduate student; established in 1992 to honor the memory of Robert S. Breen — a School of Communication alumnus (bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees), member of the performance studies faculty from 1947 to 1978, and professor emeritus from 1978 until his death in 1991 — and his wife, Gertrude B. Breen, who earned her bachelor’s degree from the school and was closely linked to the University until her death in 1992.
Presented to a graduate student in performance studies who best upholds Conquergood’s commitment to critically engaged pedagogy
Presented to a graduate student in performance studies; established in 1984 by Mrs. Chester L. Heston in memory of her daughter, Lilla Heston, an exemplary Northwestern student who became a highly respected and much-loved faculty member and chaired the department from 1979 until her death in 1984.
Congratulations to our 2024/25 award recipients!
Shai Bardin and Mya Vandegrift, Department Honors for Undergraduate Theses
Nora Alami, Robert S. and Gertrude B. Breen Memorial Award
Gabriel Guzmán and Madeleine LeCesne, Dwight Conquergood Award for Excellence in Performance Pedagogy
Samantha Webster, Frank J. Galati Prize for Undergraduate Essays in Performance Studies
Olabanke Goriola, Lilla A. Heston Award for Academic Excellence
Sophie Schaeffer, James L. Lardner Memorial Award
Mya Vandegrift, Martha Lavey Prize
Shai Bardin, Charlotte Lee Award
