31st Ovation Awards!
Distinguished Alumni Award in the Department of Art and Art History
Ed Fraga (Art and Art History '80), Artist
View CFPCA's Ovation Award video tribute to Ed Fraga here.
Ed Fraga is a full-time artist who works out of his Ferndale, MI, studio. He received his BFA degree from WSU in 1980. He has exhibited work in solo and group shows throughout the Detroit area for more than 20 years. Fraga's paintings are in public collections at the Detroit Institute of Arts, Cranbrook Art Museum and the Flint Institute of Arts.
View CFPCA's Ovation Award video tribute to Ed Fraga here.
Ed Fraga is a full-time artist who works out of his Ferndale, MI, studio. He received his BFA degree from WSU in 1980. He has exhibited work in solo and group shows throughout the Detroit area for more than 20 years. Fraga's paintings are in public collections at the Detroit Institute of Arts, Cranbrook Art Museum and the Flint Institute of Arts.
Distinguished Alumni Award in the Department of Theatre
Thorsten Kaye (Theatre '94), Actor and Poet
View the local ABC affiliate's news coverage of Thorsten Kaye's WSU visit here.
Thorsten Kaye is a two-time Emmy-nominated actor with roles on All My Children, Port Charles and One Life to Live. His book of original poetry is titled From Timber Ridge to Daymer Gardens.
View the local ABC affiliate's news coverage of Thorsten Kaye's WSU visit here.
Thorsten Kaye is a two-time Emmy-nominated actor with roles on All My Children, Port Charles and One Life to Live. His book of original poetry is titled From Timber Ridge to Daymer Gardens.
Career Achievement Award in the Field of Dance
Rose Marie Floyd (WSU '53), Dancer and Choreographer
View CFPCA's Ovation Award video tribute to Rose Marie Floyd here.
View CFPCA's Ovation Award video tribute to Rose Marie Floyd here.
An icon and corner stone in the dance legacy of Detroit, Rose Marie Floyd continues to lead a crusade through the students she teaches, advocating dance into tomorrow.
Career Achievement Award in the Field of Music
George Shirley (Music '56), Tenor and the Joseph Edgar Maddy Distinguished University Emeritus Professor of Voice at the University of Michigan
View CFPCA's Ovation Award video tribute to George Shirley here.
Professor Shirley is a Grammy Award-winning vocalist with a career spanning 41 years and performances of more than 80 operatic roles in the world's most influential opera houses.
View CFPCA's Ovation Award video tribute to George Shirley here.
Professor Shirley is a Grammy Award-winning vocalist with a career spanning 41 years and performances of more than 80 operatic roles in the world's most influential opera houses.
Distinguished Alumni Award in the Department of Communication AND Career Achievement Award in the Field of Communication
David E. Salzman (Communication ’69), Executive Producer, MADtv
View CFPCA's Ovation Award video tribute to David Salzman here.
View CFPCA's Ovation Award video tribute to David Salzman here.
David E. Salzman received his master's degree in communication from WSU in 1969 and has since created or produced more than 200 TV series, mini-series or programs and is part owner of Vibe and Spin magazines and four TV stations.
Distinguished Community Service Award
Susan Mosey (WSU ’83), President, University Cultural Center Association
View CFPCA's Ovation Award video tribute to Susan Mosey here.
View CFPCA's Ovation Award video tribute to Susan Mosey here.
Under Sue Mosey’s direction as president since 1990, the University Cultural Center Association has been a major force in the revitalization of midtown Detroit.
Past Honorees
2006–07
Daniel Loepp – Communication
Eunice Moore – Dance
Larry Walker – Art
Leonard Leone – Dean’s Award for Distinguished Service
Tom Skerritt – Dean’s Award for Career Achievement
2005–06
Jack Kay – Communication
Stephen Millen – Music
Ernie Hudson – Theatre
Richard Bilaitis – Dean’s Distinguished Service Award
Detroit Free Press – Dean’s Community Service Award
2004
William Benoit – Communication
Robert Brock – Theatre
Helen Landgarten – Art Education
James Pallas – Art and Art History
Charles Postlewate – Music
John Richards – English
Sharon Unrau – Dance
2003
Jerry Flint – Communication
Annette Alexander Frank – Art Edu.
Cary Loren – Art and Art History
John Macurdy – Music
Ruben Santiago Hudson – Theatre
Linda Cleveland Simmons – Dance
Univ. Cultural Ctr. Assoc. – Advocate
2002
Kathleen Gaffney – Theatre
Harvey Goldstein – Art Education
Jennifer Noyer – Dance
Don Palmer – Music
John Nick Pappas – Art and Art History
Dr. Sidney A. Ribeau – Communication
Anca Vlasopolos – English
Peter Cummings – Arts Advocate
2001
Edward K. Christian – Communication
Ira Hearshen – Music
Victoria Holley-Foster – Dance
S. Epatha Merkerson – Theatre
David Small – Art and Art History
Aida Snow – Art Education
George Tysh – English
Dr. David DiChiera – Arts Advocate
2000
George Cantor – Communication
William P. Foster – Music
Carol Halsted – Dance
Carol S. Pylant – Art and Art History
Tom Sizemore – Theatre
Marian Kinney Stephens – Art Education
Maggie Allesee – Arts Advocate
1998–99
Charles Canon – Art Education
Alan Danielson – Dance
Arthur C. Danto – Art and Art History
Chad Everett – Communication
Yusef A. Lateef – Music
Martin Pakledinaz – Theatre
Bonnie Lee Moss Rattner – English
Frank D. Stella – Arts Advocate
1997
Kim Carney – Theatre
Lori Christmastree – Art and Art History
Malcolm Johns – Music
Marion K. Jones – Dance
Victor H. Miesel, Ph.D. – Art Education
Frank Pahl – English
Erik Smith – Communication
Emma Lazaroff Schaver – Arts Advocate
1996
Sergio DeGiusti – Art and Art History
Rosemary Gould – Art Education
Robert Lambert – Theatre
Joseph Loduca – Music
Alvin Mayes – Dance
Elizabeth Meese, Ph.D. – English
Thom Sharp – Communication
Louis G. Redstone – Arts Advocate
1995
Rose Marie Floyd – Dance
Mark Fritz – Communication
John P. Glick – Art and Art History
Dr. Polly Hughes – Art Education
Ollie McFarland – Music
Dr. Deborah Tannen – English
Barbara Tarbuck – Theatre
Arthur L. Johnson – Arts Advocate
1994
Robert Bates, Ph.D. – Music
Beverly Barber – Dance
Sonny Eliot – Communication
Woodie King, Jr. – Theatre
James Russell Mayes – English
Louise J. Nobili – Art and Art History
Shirley Woodson – Art Education
James F. Duffy, Jr. – Arts Advocate
1993
Roy E. Ernst – Music
Paula Gosling Hare – English
Diane D. Kordich – Art Education
Stanley Lechtzin – Art and Art History
Philip Spensley – Theatre
Helen Thomas – Communication
Charles A. Forbes – Arts Advocate
1992
Portia Fields-Anderson – Dance
Daniel Majeske – Music
Dr. David McKay – Art Education
Nancy Mitchnick – Art and Art History
Don Pilette – Communication
June Akers Seese – English
Russell E. Smith – Theatre
Dr. Charles H. Wright – Arts Advocate
1991
Lillian Wolock Elliott – Art Education
Clarice Tinsley-Giles – Communication
Julie Jensen – English
Mark A. Leithauser – Art and Art History
Gordon Mathie – Music
Sharon McColl – Dance
Tom Spackman – Theatre
Leon S. Cohan – Arts Advocate
1990
Alice Galloway – Theatre
Karen Goodman – Dance
Susan Hauptman – Art and Art History
Shirley Love – Music
Paul Petrie – English
Cledie Taylor – Art Education
Roger and Henrietta Friedholm – Arts Advocate
1989
Gere Baskin – Art and Art History
Frederick Coffin – Theatre
William Harris – English
Allan T. Mette – Art Education
Barbara Selinger – Dance
David Wagner – Music
Paul L. and Susan D. Nine – Arts Advocate
1988
Kenneth Burrell – Music
Sharon Dilworth – English
Barbara Hallman – Art Education
Ellen Phelan – Art and Art History
Irma Pylyshenko – Dance
Paul Stolarsky – Theatre
Michael Ilitch – Arts Advocate
1987
Leo “Ted” Conebeare – Art Education
Stephen Dobyns – English
Richard R. Kinney, Jr. – Art and Art History
Wil Love – Theatre
Joseph Striplin – Music
Anne Warren – Dance
Walter Buhl Ford, II – Arts Advocate
1986
Patricia Brooks – Dance
Dr. Seymour Chatman – English
Brazeal Dennard – Music
Walter Samuel Hamady - Art and Art History
James Jennings – Art Education
David Regal – Theatre
W. Hawkins Ferry – Arts Advocate
1985
Irving Berg – Art Education
Garth Fagan – Dance
Shirley Harbin – Theatre
Naomi Madgett Long – English
William Peck – Art and Art History
John Rea – Music
Leonard Leone – Arts Advocate
1984
Dr. Harry Begian – Music
Esther Broner – English
Susanne Hilberry – Art and Art History
George Pentecost – Theatre
Ann Zirulnik – Dance
Fern Zwickey – Art Education
Paul Ganson – Arts Advocate
1983
Joy Hakanson Colby – Art and Art History
Robert Harris – Music
Faye Kicknosway – English
Paula Kramer – Dance
Hughie Lee-Smith – Art Education
Robert Luscombe – Theatre
1982
David Barr – Art and Art History
Gay Delanghe – Dance
Maurice Grossman – Art Education
Barbara Meek – Theatre
Ann and Ken Mikolowski – English
Donald Sinta – Music
1981
Raymond Blackwell – Art Education
Hoyt W. Fuller – English
Jacqueline Davis – Dance
Roger Sherman – Art and Art History
George Shirley – Music
Jeffrey Tambor – Theatre
1980
Harriet Berg – Dance
Mary Jane Bigler – Art and Art History
Audley M. Grossman, Jr. – Theatre
Robert Hayden – English
Fred Harrington – Art Education
Isador Saslov – Music
1978–79
State Senator Jack Faxon – all departments
1977
Kathryn Ellis – Dance
Harlan Hoffa – Art Education
Addison Franklin Page – Art and Art History
Dudley Randall – English
James Tocco – Music
Max Wright – Theatre
1976
Howard and Cathy Clark – Art and Art History
Phillip Levine – English
Cyril Miles – Art Education
Ruth Murray – Dance
Felix Resnick – Music
Michael Tolan – Theatre
1975
Murray Douglas – Art Education
G. Alden Smith – Art and Art History