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Stuart Craig Wood III was a professor of theater from the earliest years of the College. When he died suddenly in April, 1987 fellow faculty members, administrators, friends and family contributed to this scholarship fund in his memory. “Stuart gave us so much life through his love of living that we will miss him all the more,” wrote President Robert Scott at the time. A former student remembered him as “a dedicated teacher, director, performer and an unforgettable personality.” The Wood Award is presented each year to a graduating senior in Theater who plans to attend graduate school or begin a career in professional theater.
Joseph Oliver Austria of Hackensack, N.J. is a senior Theater major with a concentration in Tech/Design and a minor in Music. He has achieved Dean’s list and Magna Cum Laude honors.
At Ramapo, Joseph works as a Student Aide for the Theatre Department and Berrie Center. He has also sound designed for: The Fake Croatian, DNA, The Antipodes, Common Ground, and The Duchess of Malfi. He last designed the set and sound for The Wolves.
Outside of theater, Joseph is also a part of Ramapo’s choir groups CantaNova, Take12, and Chorale and is a member of FASA (Filipino American Student Association).
Additionally, Joseph has sound designed for 505 Theater Company at Urban Stages in New York putting on Sunless. He has also done freelance lighting and stagehand work for MetroMultimedia.
After graduation, Joseph aspires to become a Technical Director and continue working in theater in any capacity whether it be designing or tech.
MaryGrace Iorio of Brielle, N.J.is a Theatre major with a concentration in Acting. She is also a part of the Teacher Education program and has a 4.0 GPA. MaryGrace hopes to one day be a Theater teacher and share her love of the theater with others.
At Ramapo, MaryGrace has been active in several organizations and activities including, the Newman Catholic Club (2021-2022 Secretary) and the Alpha Psi Omega Theatre Honor Society. MaryGrace is also involved with the Theater productions on campus, her most recent role was Gwendolen in The Importance of Being Earnest.
Off Campus, MaryGrace likes to audition for productions at her local Community Theatres in her area including Spring Lake Community Theatre and Algonquin Arts Theatre. Over the summer she is also the Assistant Director of Riptide, a youth ministry summer program for pre-teen.
Thomas J. Donohoe II of Nutley, N.J. is a Theater major with a concentration in Directing and Stage Management. He has served as Stage Manager on the following Ramapo productions: The Big Unknown 1.5, Baltimore, and Stop Kiss.
Thomas received the National Award for Stage Management Excellence at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. Following graduation, he hopes to pursue a professional career in theatre and join Actors Equity Association.
In his hometown, he’s involved with Nutley Little Theatre and Nutley Parks and Recreation.
Noelle Gizzi of Caldwell, N.J. is a senior Theater major with a concentration in Acting and a minor in Literature. She has a 3.96 GPA and is a member of Sigma Tau Delta, the international English honor society.
While at Ramapo, Noelle has acted in a variety of theatrical productions and films. Selected credits include She Kills Monsters, Medea & Medea/For Medea, and Anon(ymous).
Noelle has also worked in the arts outside of Ramapo College, having played the titular role in the Greek comedy Lysistrata with The AlphaNYC Theater Company this past August. In addition to acting, Noelle also writes novels and plays, and her short play Just Desserts has been selected for both the Think Fast One Act Festival with The Theater Project and the Kicking and Swearing One Act Festival with the Mystic Vision Players.
Giulianna Nasta of Upper Saddle River, N.J. is a Theater major with a concentration in Design/Technology. She has a 3.9 GPA and is a member of Golden Key International Honour Society and The National Society of Collegiate Scholars.
At Ramapo, Giulianna works as a costume shop aide where she helps construct costume pieces for mainstage productions and assists students with sewing and crafting projects. She has also held various design positions on Ramapo’s mainstage theater productions, designing costumes for medea and medea/for medea, as well as working as associate costume designer on Frankenstein and working as assistant costume designer on Twelfth Night. She received a Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival Certificate of Merit for her costume design for medea and medea/for medea.
After she graduates, she plans to continue working in costume shops. “I’d like to specialize in period costuming, particularly nineteenth century, and eventually design costumes for stage and screen.”
Victoria Tommasulo of Mount Arlington, N.J. is a Theater major, with concentrations in Stage Management/Directing and Design/Technology. She has a 3.9 GPA and was inducted into Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society and Alpha Psi Omega Honor Society.
At Ramapo, Victoria has served as President of Alpha Psi Omega Theater Honor Society for two consecutive years and has been involved in many campus theater productions. She was also awarded the Stage Management Fellowship from the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival for her work on Ramapo’s Of Mice and Men.
Victoria worked with the Dorset Theater Festival for the 2016 season and with New York Stage and Film at Vassar College for the 2017 Powerhouse season.
Elizabeth Gonzalez is a Theater major with a concentration in Acting and Directing/Stage Management.
Lawrence Hickmon is a senior from Teaneck, NJ majoring in Theatre.
Karley Berrios of Parsippany, N.J. is a senior theater major with a concentration in directing and stage management as well as a psychology minor. Karley has also received her business essentials certificate from Ramapo. She has a 3.6 grade point average and was inducted into Alpha Lambda Delta honor society and Alpha Psi Omega honor society.
At Ramapo, Karley is the President of Alpha Psi Omega (Theater Honor Society) and has been a Peer Facilitator for the past three years.
She has also been involved in off campus activities, volunteering at Pony Power in Mahwah and working for a performing arts center.
Nicholas Cornwell of Fair Lawn, NJ has a contract major of Technical Theater and Digital Film with a concentration in sound design and audio technologies. He has designed sound for every RCNJ theater production and staged readings since his freshman year. Nicholas is a freelance audio engineer who works mostly in concert and corporate audio. He also designed the sound for a short film directed by Ryan McGilloway titled Lilith. Nicholas has a list of companies he would like to work for after he graduates. “It means a lot receiving this scholarship,” he said. “It becomes difficult at times keeping an honest evaluation of yourself and knowing that someone recognizes your efforts is very much appreciated.” Nicholas has a 2.79 grade point average.
Christa Lewandowski is majoring in Theater with a concentration in Design/Technical Theater. She has earned a 3.69 grade point average. The senior is from Midland Park, NJ.
Emily DeNardo of Aberdeen, NJ is a Theater major and Literature minor who developed her love of the theater when she served as stage manager for her eighth grade class production. Although she also is interested in directing, Emily says, “I found stage management to be more challenging, engaging and fulfilling.” She chose Ramapo College because it allowed her “to be involved in every aspect of its theater program.” She has stage managed “Playboy of theWesternWorld” among others at Ramapo and last summer she completed internships with HorseTradeTheater Group,Manhattan Theater Source and Out OfThe BoxTheater Company. Emily, who has a 3.83 grade point average, was inducted into Alpha Psi Omega, the theater honor society.
Ramsey resident Lauren Barbara is in her junior year at Ramapo majoring in theater while pursuing teacher certification in elementary education. By the time she was a senior in high school Lauren had been an active Girl Scout for 13 years. Lauren was the student director for three plays during her high school career, and either worked backstage or as a performer for many others. She served as president of the Ramsey High School Drama Club, and was a member of the choir and the concert choir. At Ramapo Lauren has earned a 3.61 grade point average.
This scholarship has made me feel more confident in my abilities as a technical theater student. I am honored and grateful.
Anne Liberman is a senior enrolled in the School of Contemporary Arts. Anne is majoring in both theater with a concentration in design/technical theater, as well as visual arts concentrating in drawing and painting. She has earned a 3.75 grade point average. “Anne plans to go to graduate school in costume design,” says Steve Perry, dean of Contemporary Arts. Anne is from Rockaway, New Jersey.
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