Health Education Troupe Honored at UMass Amherst
Aug. 14, 2006
| Contact: | Karen Dunbar Scully 413/545-0444 |
AMHERST, Mass. – The Not Ready for Bedtime Players, the University of Massachusetts Amherst’s peer health theater troupe, has been recognized for excellence in educational programming by the National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH), the country’s honor society for residential life leaders.
The Players received June’s “Of the Month Award” for their contributions to the university’s new student orientation program. The troupe performed for more than 4,000 students at this summer’s sessions, earning rave reviews for lively skits about college health and wellness.
The troupe was nominated by Leisl Bauman, president of NRHH’s UMass Amherst chapter. Nominees must win at the campus and regional levels before advancing for national consideration; the Players’ honor marks only the third time a UMass Amherst candidate has won the national award.
Orientation performers were senior Dennis Canty; junior Stacy Schneiderman; sophomore Patti Simoneau; and class of 2006 members Silk Johnson, Steph Trilling, Jeff Staples and Delisa Vieira. The group is directed by health educator Diane M. Fedorchak.
During the academic year, the Players present free shows weekly at sites across the UMass Amherst campus and other venues. This marks the second year the group has performed at orientations; during the sessions, they’re joined by Everywoman’s Center representatives, who provide information and resources on healthy relationships.
The Players are based at University Health Services, UMass Amherst’s fully accredited health center. The troupe formed in 1988 as part of “The AIDS Follies,” a UMass theater project about the AIDS crisis. Today, their repertoire has expanded to include a wide range of health issues impacting the university community.
Inductees to NRHH, a branch of the National Association of College and University Residence Halls, represent the top 1% of student leaders living on campus. The group works to encourage student development and improve campus life.
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