LAURA BETH KUHNS
MAY 14, 1987 - JUNE 5, 2013
Laura was a bright and talented young woman who loved the theater. She performed at SUMC Summer Theatre for about a decade and those summers were among her happiest memories. She played a variety of roles from the “flying” Fruma Sarah in Fiddler on the Roof to lead roles such as Kim MacAfee in Bye Bye Birdie and Queen Aggravain in Once Upon a Mattress. She loved the camaraderie among the cast and crew and most importantly she loved sharing the gospel with the community. In an excerpt from her college applications Laura wrote, “This spiritual organization has invaluably influenced my personal and spiritual growth. Summer Theatre taught me perseverance and teamwork and helped shape my personality.” Although Laura passed away prematurely from pneumonia, her memory lives on by helping Summer Theatre students. The Laura Kuhns Memorial Endowment Fund was established to help support Summer Theatre’s ministry. So future generations can continue to enjoy this unique opportunity to make friends, gain confidence, grow spiritually, and experience the joy of spreading God’s word.
THEATRE GIFT
In 2018 this gift was established to support the production. Each year a different aspect of the production is supported.
- 2018 – New stage curtain and study bibles for youth
- 2019 – New high definition camera
- 2020 – Stipend for unpaid youth staff
- 2021 – Outdoor Tent Rental
LAURA KUHNS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Summer Theatre is offering an academic scholarship to a student who is active in Summer Theatre and who graduated from high school during the current year or finished first year at a post high school academic institution. The scholarship will be funded annually by the Laura Kuhns Endowment Fund at SUMC in memory of Laura Kuhns, a Summer Theatre alumni. The $1,000 scholarship will be given for continued academic studies. It will be announced at the closing event of Summer Theatre in mid-August.Any student interested in this scholarship should return the application to Summer Theatre Admin. The deadline is July 15.
LAURA KUHNS MEMORIAL INTERNSHIP
Summer Theatre is offering a paid internship to a deserving college student who chooses to work on the production staff. The internship will be funded annually by the Laura Kuhns Endowment Fund at SUMC in memory of Laura Kuhns, a Summer Theatre alumni. The intern will be given $1,000 for their efforts on the production staff. The intern can work in any area of the production staff including assistant directing, stage manager, stage crew manager, lighting, sound, costume, makeup/hair, set art/construction, and props.Any college student interested in this internship should return the application to Summer Theatre Admin. The deadline is April 15.
Summer Theatre Admin / Send Application
SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
2014: Lane Wisnom
2015: Grace Nale
2016: Maggie Kaliszak
2017: Rebecca Watts
2018: Noah Tart
2019: Tess Becket
2020: Alaina Uricheck
2021: Nick Dilley
INTERNSHIP RECIPIENTS
2014: Beth Holle
2015: Scott Kaliszak
2016: Ethan Paules
2017: Maggie Kaliszak
2018: Logan Garvey
2019: Miranda Shaffer
2020: Kayleigh Gallagher
2021: Grace Watters
2022: Michael Daiuto