5/21/02

News Brief

Following is a story lead and the UNI source who can best address this issue. Please feel free to contact sources directly.

UNI news conference tomorrow

University of Northern Iowa President Robert Koob has scheduled a news conference for 9 a.m., Wednesday, May 22, in the Great Reading Room of Seerley Hall. Koob will discuss proposals for handling fiscal year 2003 budget reductions.

Note: The center of the UNI campus is under construction. You will find a campus map at

Contact:

Gwenne Culpepper, University Marketing & Public Relations, (319) 273-2761

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5/21/02

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Jascenna Haislet-Carlson, marketing director and theatre publicist, (319) 273-6387

Vicki Grimes, University Marketing & Public Relations, (319) 273-2761

UNI theatre student receives top honors in Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Valerie Johnson, a graduate student in the Department of Theatre at the University of Northern Iowa, took top honors at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KC/ACTF) in Washington, D.C., last month.

Johnson, a native of Melbourne, won the "Best Ten-Minute Play" award for her play, "Your Typical, Everyday, Lighthearted, Romantic Comedy," written while she was an undergraduate theatre major at UNI. Her play was chosen in January at the Region V Festival in Lincoln, Neb., to be presented at the national festival.

In addition to a cash award, her play will be published by Dramatic Publishing Inc. She also received a fellowship at Dad's Garage in Atlanta, where the play will be produced in January 2003. It also is being considered, along with other 10-minute plays from the festival, for production at the Source Theatre in Washington, D.C.

Johnson received her B.A. degree in theatre from UNI in May 2001. Her play was performed locally as part of the University's Arts in April celebration.

UNI's Department of Theatre will host the Region V KC/ACTF in January 2003. Jay Edelnant, UNI professor of theatre, just completed a three-year term as the national chair of KC/ACTF.

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