Four alumni also to be honored at March 7 evening program
Tom Skerritt, acclaimed film and television actor, director and writer, will receive the Ovation Award for Career Achievement from Wayne State University’s College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts on Wednesday, March 7, 7 p.m., at the Ritz-Carlton Dearborn. He is being recognized for his professional achievements and dedication to the arts.
On Thursday, March 8, 9:30 a.m., Skerritt will conduct a 90 minute master class, titled “Get On Your Feet and Act”, for Wayne State’s theatre and film/video students. Similar to a course he regularly teaches at TheFilmSchool in Seattle, Skerritt’s master class at Wayne State provides students an opportunity to act and direct one another’s written material, to experience their words in action and to receive a critique from the award-winning film and television actor.
The veteran Hollywood star, who won an Emmy for best actor for his role in CBS\'s Picket Fences (1992-96), is a Detroit native and graduate of Mackenzie High School. He attended Wayne State University in 1957-58 at the beginning of his education as an actor. He caught the acting bug after being cast in a Wayne State University Theatre production of the play Right You Are, If You Think You Are by Luigi Pirandello.
Skerritt has performed in more than 35 motion pictures, including M*A*S*H (1970), The Turning Point (1977), Alien (1979), Top Gun (1986), Steel Magnolias (1989), A River Runs Through It (1992), The Other Sister (1999) and Tears of the Sun (2003). Currently, he stars in the ABC television series Brothers and Sisters.
Others who will be honored Wednesday evening are:
Leonard Leone of Berkley, distinguished professor emeritus at Wayne
State and director emeritus/founder of the university’s Hilberry Theatre. He will receive the Dean’s Award for Distinguished Service.
Daniel Loepp of Birmingham, president and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. He will receive a Distinguished Alumni Award.
Eunice Moore of Detroit, director of health, physical education and safety for the Detroit Public Schools. She will receive a Distinguished Alumni Award.
Larry Walker of Lithonia, Ga., professor emeritus at Georgia State University, where he served as director of the School of Art for 11 years. He will receive a Distinguished Alumni Award.
The annual Ovation Awards ceremony, in its 30th year, is a celebration of achievement that benefits WSU’s College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts. Outstanding alumni and long-time friends of the university are honored for accomplishments in their respective fields and/or for service to the college.
The event begins with a VIP reception at 6 p.m., followed by a silent auction fundraiser at 6:30 p.m. and the dinner/awards program at 7 p.m. For more information on the program and the awards, contact Jana Stoyanovich, jstoyanovich@wayne.edu, or (313) 577-5336.
Wayne State University is a premier institution of higher education offering more than 350 academic programs through 11 schools and colleges to more than 33,000 students.