2022 Annual Kamps Award for High School Graduate

BDACT seeks candidates for Jerome H. Kamps Memorial Award

The Beaver Dam Area Community Theatre is accepting applications for the Jerome H. Kamps Memorial Award, established by the Kamps family in 2016. The $500 award, distributed for the past five years, will be granted to a 2022 high school graduate who has been actively engaged in BDACT and other theater activities and is pursuing a post high school education.

Graduating seniors from Beaver Dam High School, Wayland Academy, and area high schools are eligible. Selection is based on credit points for on-stage and back-stage responsibilities, including participation with BDACT and its Tell-A-Tale Children’s Theatre, participation in high school productions, or participation in other theater or theater-related community activities in the surrounding area. In consideration of the recent COVID restrictions, on-line production activity may also be included for credit points. At least one-fourth of the applicant’s activities must be with BDACT.

All candidates for the award must complete an application listing their theater activities and write a one-page essay stating, “Why theater is especially important to me and my community…” Application forms are online at www.bdact.org . The completed application and essay must be postmarked and sent to “Kamps Award” BDACT, 117 W. Maple Avenue, Beaver Dam, WI 53916, or emailed to [email protected] no later than June 1, 2022.  It is the intent of the award committee to choose a deserving award recipient annually; however, it is within the discretion of the committee to make that determination.

Jerome Kamps, deceased in May 2015, was a co-founder and charter member of the community theater and an art teacher at Beaver Dam High School for thirty-four years until his retirement. During his teaching career, Jerome Kamps designed sets and directed set painting for more than sixty high school plays and for many BDACT productions. Throughout his life he also offered his talents to a variety of Beaver Dam community projects and organizations, particularly the Beaver Dam Area Arts Association and the Dodge County Historical Society museum. Given Kamps’ example as a dedicated behind-the-scenes volunteer who gave his talents and love for the arts unconditionally, the committee will especially recognize those characteristics in the award candidates.

For more information and the application form, see www.bdact.org, visit BDACT’s Facebook, e-mail managing[email protected], or call 920-885-6891.