Langley Trust donation increases ESU Theatre scholarships

Students in Emporia State University’s theatre program can look forward to some expanded scholarship opportunities this fall. An $8,000 contribution from the Loretto A. Langley Charitable Trust is designated for additional theatre department scholarships.

(Left to right) Steve Davis, Steve Bell, Jim Bartruff, and Kyle Land at recent ceremony recognizing an $8,000 gift from the Loretto A. Langley Charitable Trust for ESU theatre department scholarships.

“The theatre department is a very vital part of this community, and a vital part of Emporia State University,” said Steve Davis, legal advisor for the Langley Trust. “The gift seemed to fit with Loretto’s interests, and there certainly was a need for scholarships for students to continue the traditions that the arts department and the theatre department have built over the years,” Davis said.

The entire gift will be used for scholarships, said Jim Bartruff, director of theatre at ESU. “The Langley Trust didn’t put a limit on the number of dollar value of the scholarships, only that the entire gift should be awarded for scholarships,” Bartruff said. ESU theatre scholarships typically start at $800, and Bartruff anticipates offering awards that are higher than that amount.

Kyle Land recently completed an 11-year association with ESU’s theatre department, first as a student, then as the department’s technical director. As a student, Land said financial assistance played a big role in his ability to focus on developing his theatrical abilities.

“For three years, I had a full-ride scholarship here,” said Land, a recipient of the ESU Theatre’s Carl C. Bruder scholarship. “It allowed me to concentrate on my schoolwork and not having to worry about how I was going to pay rent and eat.” Land is moving to Chicago, where he plans to expand his career in theatre and eventually become a director.

Bartruff expects the additional scholarships will only bolster what he calls one of the best theatre programs in the nation. “It’s a place where students can develop their skills and produce theatre,” said Bartruff, noting that ESU regularly participates in the American College Theatre Festival sponsored by the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

The Loretto A. Langley Charitable Trust was established following Miss Langley’s death in 1999 to memorialize her interest in education and the arts. A retired Emporia schoolteacher, Miss Langley was a 1926 graduate of Emporia State University.

For more information about theatre scholarship opportunities afforded by the Loretto A. Langley Charitable Trust donation, contact Jim Bartruff, director of theatre, at 620-341-5704.

Last Updated August 7, 2008>