Northern Michigan University's Theatre and Dance Department marked its 60th anniversary by hosting an inaugural alumni awards celebration in late October to honor exceptional achievements in the entertainment arts.
Recipients who posed for a group photo and their respective awards were (from left): Porter Kelly, an actor with 40+ TV/film credits, Outstanding Alumni-Hall of Fame; Alycia Reynolds, Rising Star in Dance; Kelly Moscinski, owner/head of casting at The Voicecaster in Burbank, Calif., Travis Moscinski, actor/voice actor, and Jalina McClain, arts administration and management, all of whom were named Outstanding Young Alumni; Leah Hocking, Broadway performer with 10 credited shows, Outstanding Alumni-Hall of Fame; Karlyn Rapport, representing her late husband Jim Rapport, professor, director of theatre and head of the Speech Department, Circle of Champions Award; Michael Detroit, executive producer, Playhouse in the Square in Memphis, Outstanding Alumni-Hall of Fame; Shelley Russell, former professor, Circle of Champions; Sophie Sam, director, Rising Star; and Janel Cooke Rayome, administrative director of Ballet Tech in New York City, Outstanding Alumni-Hall of Fame.
Other recipients not pictured were: the late James Panowski, professor and director of theater, and Victor Holliday, associate professor and head of design, Circle of Champions; and Abbey Schneck, who works in management, Rising Star.