Andrew Broomell Wins Inaugural Melvin R. Laird Exceptional Artist Award
(May 12, 2011) – University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point (UWSP) graduating senior Andrew
Broomell was named the first recipient of the Melvin R. Laird Exceptional Artist Award.
The inaugural award annually recognizes and rewards an exceptional graduating UWSP student
in performing or visual arts by providing a $5,000 investment in his or her potential to become
a successful leading artist in his or her field. Established earlier this year by the Hon. Melvin R.
Laird and members of the Laird Endowment Advisory Board, the award serves as a continued
commitment to the Laird Art Leadership program associated with Laird Leadership Day. The
Hon. Melvin R. Laird was the former U.S. Secretary of Defense under President Nixon and
Wisconsin's 7th Congressional District representative.
Broomell, a Theatrical Design and Technology major from Wittenberg, WI will use the award to
support his pursuit of a Master of Fine Arts degree in scenic design at the University of
California-Irvine.
“I remember thinking in high school that my goal was to win a Tony Award for theatrical
design,” said Broomell. “Though I’ve certainly not ruled out that possibility, winning any sort of
award isn’t why I’m going into theatre. I simply want to become the best artist I can be,
whatever that eventually entails.”
During his tenure at UWSP, Broomell has grown and thrived as a scenic artist, designing
numerous productions on campus including: Sunday in the Park with George (Scenic Designer),
Soldiers Circle (Scenic Designer), Rent (Scenic Designer), She Loves Me (UWSP – Properties
Designer) What the Butler Saw (UWSP - Properties Designer), Ringtone (UWSP - Projections
Designer), Hair (UWSP – Projections Designer), and Never the Sinner (UWSP - Projections
Designer); as well as several shows off campus: 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee (Tibbits Opera
House-Scenic Designer), Run For Your Wife (Tibbits Opera House - Scenic Designer), Crazy For
You (Tibbits Opera House – Scenic Designer), On Broadway (Tibbits Opera House - Scenic
Designer), High School Musical (Neenah Riverside Players - Sound Designer), and Peter Pan
(Kaukauna Community Players - Scenic Designer).
For his outstanding work, Broomell has been recognized with the following awards: The
Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (Region III) Special Judges’ Award for
Outstanding Media Design--Never the Sinner and Barbizon Award Honorable Mention for
Theatrical Design Excellence in Scenery—Soldiers Circle, James Vorland Technical Theatre
Award, UWSP Theatre & Dance Scholarship in Design Technology, and Sentry Insurance
Academic Excellence Award.
Seventeen other talented graduating student artists submitted applications and portfolios for
the Melvin R. Laird Committee’s review. “With so many uniquely talented students the
selection process proved to be quite challenging,” noted Jeff Morin, Dean of UWSP’s College of
Fine Arts & Communication. “We could not be more proud of our student artists. Reviewing the
application materials served as an affirmation of the tremendous efforts of our faculty and
students.”
“I love taking something with great potential and turning it into something even greater,” said
Broomell. “This investment in my potential will realize great returns as I grow and develop my
design skills. I look forward to returning to campus to share my experience with students in the
years to come.”
Broomell will graduate summa cum laude (highest honors) from UWSP with a Bachelors of Fine
Arts degree on Saturday, May 21. He will spend the summer designing the 4-show season at the
Tibbits Opera House in Coldwater, MI before beginning his graduate studies at University of
California – Irvine.