Illinois Valley

IVCC theater trio launches student scholarship

$5K gift funds annual award for performers and behind-the-scenes roles

IVCC Theater veterans Don Grant Zellmer, Dr. David Kuester and Chad Brokaw expanded support of the performing arts program through a $1,000 scholarship to assist theater students. They are shown (from left) with College President Dr. Tracy Morris. Zellmer retired from duties as director/choreographer and Dr. Kuester retired as theater professor this year, and Brokaw remains with the college as theater events and technical coordinator.

IVCC Theater veterans Don Grant Zellmer, Dr. David Kuester and Chad Brokaw expanded support of the performing arts program through a $1,000 scholarship to assist theater students. They are shown (from left) with College President Dr. Tracy Morris. Zellmer retired from duties as director/choreographer and Dr. Kuester retired as theater professor this year, and Brokaw remains with the college as theater events and technical coordinator. (Photo provided by IVCC)

By Maribeth M. Wilson

Three leaders in the Illinois Valley Community College’s theater program have created a scholarship to support students who perform onstage or behind the scenes.

According to an IVCC news release, the Zellmer-Kuester-Brokaw Theatre Scholarship, created by Don Grant Zellmer, Dr. David A. Kuester and Chad Brokaw, will award up to $1,000 per year to students in performance or technical theater, such as costuming, stage management or related behind-the-scenes positions.

They each provided an initial donation of more than $5,000 to fund the scholarship.

According to the news release, Zellmer was the director and choreographer of musical theater at IVCC for 21 years and has been a professional performer, director and producer across the country. Brokaw began taking part in productions as a community member in 2016 and continues to be involved as the College’s theater events and technical coordinator.

Kuester, a published playwright and a 2022 recipient of the Illinois Theatre Association’s Award for Excellence in College & University Theatre, retired as IVCC’s theater and speech professor after 27 years, according to a news release.

“We have seen the positive changes in students when they are involved in theater productions, and through this scholarship, we want to continue those positive changes beyond our tenure,” Kuester said in a news release.

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Maribeth M. Wilson

Maribeth M. Wilson has been a reporter with Shaw Media for two years, one of those as news editor at the Morris Herald-News. She became a part of the NewsTribune staff in 2023.