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Theatre & Dance recognizes outstanding students

four women students

four women students, from left to right, Melanie Sutrathada, Marie Ibarra, Victoria Fadenipo, and Tara Paulson

  • May 25, 2011 2:00pm

The CSUEB Department of Theatre and Dance has recognized four outstanding students. 

Melanie Sutrathada, a junior, received the Student Artist of Merit in Performance award. CSUEB audiences have seen her in more than 15 shows, including “Pan and Wendy,” “Chicago,” “Almond Eyes,” “The Iago Syndrome,” and “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.” She has also performed in campus benefits with the “Performing as Females” club.

A double major in broadcast communication, she plans to attend graduate school in Los Angeles and pursue a career in acting. Coming from a single-parent household in San Diego, her award will help pay her own expenses so another sibling can being college. Her education here has taught her the importance of working hard both to discover a character and to communicate it with a flexible, fit body and voice.

Marie Ibarra, a freshman, received the Carol Channing Student Artist of Merit in Musical Theatre award. A local student from Newark, Ibarra will have performed in four shows her first year, including “Scroogie,” “A Modern Musical Carol” and “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.” She is learning more each day about what’s happening in preproduction, while improving her voice and acting.

A busy young woman, Ibarra pursues a double major in English, and a minor in philosophy, and taking leadership training for the peer mentor program. This year she has set a goal to be as prepared for rehearsal (and classes) as would be expected of a professional actress. She is learning to practice continuously both for her own benefit and to serve as a positive example.

Victoria Fadenipo, a senior, received the Student Artist of Merit in Dance award. She has overcome many obstacles in achieving success as a dance major at CSUEB, not the least of which is her daily commute from the Hunter’s Point-Bayview district of San Francisco. Her senior production, “Women Where Art Thou?” expresses her ideas about womanhood. While she has learned a lot at CSUEB, the piece celebrates all the lessons she has learned from women on the faculty, women in her everyday life, and women throughout society.  

Tara Paulson, a junior, received the Student Artist of Merit award. A transfer student, she was inspired to pursue theatre by her experiences in the world of improvisation. After graduation she plans to move to one of the nation’s improvisation meccas to jumpstart a professional career. CSUEB has taught her appreciation for people behind the scenes, especially the value of their hard work. And, she does work hard herself, paying her university costs as a massage therapist at two local chiropractic offices.

DD

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