The Texas Educational Theatre Association (TxETA) will present theatre director Greta Peterson with the Founders Award in September at the annual convention of TxETA at Moody Gardens convention center in Galveston.
“When you are nominated for this award you must have proven yourself in leadership within the organization, service to the organization and also have past achievements and awards in other organizations,” Peterson said.
The TxETA Founders Award is a prestigious accomplishment given when one makes a heavy contribution to the future of theater artists and educators.
“This is an award that is given for a lifetime of work,” Peterson said. “It’s not something that is given for a ‘Year of Good Work and Recognition.’ Just to be nominated you must hit a certain point count which means every award, volunteer hour, number of shows done every season, etc. is counted and added up through points.”
Few people receive the TxETA due to the competitiveness and hard work needed to put into it.
“I was overwhelmed and shocked,” Peterson said.
There were several nominees Peterson felt were more deserving of the award, though the recognition she got for doing something she loves was the icing on top.
“As teachers, there are so many times we go unrecognized and it’s nice when someone out there thinks you’ve done a good job,” Peterson said.
Sophomore Samantha Sturgeon, a theatre student of Peterson, found out about her teacher’s award April 18.
“I felt amazed,” Sturgeon said. “She is an awesome teacher and she definitely deserves it! She has helped Lampasas so much since she started. She helped build up the theater community in Lampasas and I couldn’t be happier being her student.”
