Pike Awarded First Theatre Alumni Scholarship

Oswego’s theatre department is known for a being a close-knit group, with graduates helping each other advance their careers long after graduation.

So it’s no wonder that a group of Los Angeles-area alumni banded together to create a scholarship to help a current student.

They held cabaret performances, titled “The L.A.ker Effect,” which featured a variety of formats, ranging from short films written, performed and directed by Oswego alumni to sketch comedy, readings and musicals.

“I was able to attend the event each year and the connections they all make with each other — with their Oswego years as a common bond — are impressive,” said Theatre Professor Mark Cole ’73. “The events were very successful, not only in providing a reunion venue but also in raising significant funds for the scholarship.”

This year, the endowed scholarship was awarded to its first recipient: Nicholas Pike ’13.

“He is an excellent example of the type of major this scholarship celebrates: a versatile student, who has honed his performance skills and worked crews in several areas, someone who has demonstrated dedication and accomplishment and drive,” said Cole.

Pike is a theatre major with a concentration in acting and directing. A member of Blackfriars, he is also a member of the Oswego State diving team. After graduation, he hopes to go on to earn a master of fine arts in acting and stage management. He dreams of a career as a stage manager for a major entertainment event or for professional theatre.

“The SUNY Oswego theatre department has helped me grow as a performer, establish an understanding of most technical aspects of theatre, discover new passions as well as remembering old ones,” wrote Pike in thanking the committee for the scholarship.

“I am very lucky to be receiving this award and to be able to go to Oswego to learn more about what I love to do. One day I hope to lead by your example and return the favor to the program,” he added.

“We know of the long hours and tremendous dedication it takes to have an active part in theatre [at Oswego],” said Natascha Corrigan Aldridge ’96, one of the organizers of the effort. “Maybe with the help of the scholarship, a student who would have a part-time job to pay for books, might be able to perform [instead] and gain that priceless experience.”

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