FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                             November 13, 2007

WEAST WINS AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING THEATRE EDUCATOR   

Northwestern Oklahoma State University’s Kimberly Weast, assistant professor of theatre, recently was awarded with the “Ruth Arrington Outstanding College Theatre Education” award.

Ruth Arrington is a graduate from Oklahoma College for Women, which is now the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (USAO). She served as a teacher of speech and drama at Northeastern Oklahoma A & M College in Miami; professor of speech at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah; teacher of speech for summer sessions at Kansas State College in Pittsburg, Kan.; and, Appalachian State in Boone, N.C. She also taught communications for Headlands Health Careers for Gifted Indian Students. She has acted, directed and produced films and won the Oklahoma Speech, Theatre Communication Association (OSTCA) award for “Outstanding College Theatre Education” in 1987.

Weast was nominated by Lyndal Westmoreland of Okarche. Westmoreland is a member of the (OSTCA) awards committee.

The committee chose Weast for many reasons. Comments from her nomination included: “Her colleagues, from experience, know how great a theatre educator she is,” and “I feel she has a great concept on what their program’s mission should be, and she works tirelessly to achieve that mission.”

Weast was surprised in receiving this award.

“It is nice to be recognized by the collegiate and high school performing arts faculties across the state and to realize the appreciation of our interest in exposing students to the arts, building quality and being a resource to the public schools,” Weast said.

-NW-

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