Theatre alumnus establishes award recognizing LGBTQIA+ students

Theatre alum, friend, and colleague Rob Schneider has very generously funded a new diversity scholarship focused on the needs of our LGBTQIA+ students and we are beyond grateful for his gift, announced School of Theatre Director Rick Lombardo in October. Following are some comments from Rob about the award. “Over the past few years, I have been so impressed by the changes occurring amongst the School of Theatre student body at Penn State in regard to their demands for diversity and inclusion within their artistic community. When you are in the midst of your education, it is hard to fight this good fight amongst all the other things being thrown your way. Yet, this new generation does it and does it so well. Therefore, in the spirit of celebration of these changes, I am proud to announce that in the spring of 2021, the Penn State School of Theatre will bestow the first Robert W. Schneider LGBTQIA+ Advocacy and Visibility Award to a School of Theatre student.” Consideration for this award of $2500 shall be given to any full-time student who is enrolled or plans to enroll in the School of Theatre in the College of Arts and Architecture, or successor academic units, who demonstrates initiative or leadership such as, but not limited to, the organization of a program or event, creation or performance of an ‘artistic work’ that highlights LGBTQIA+ awareness.