Charlene Beckwith Receives Academic Achievement Award

2014 Jun 16

Charlene Beckwith of Oxford, NY, was one of 29 outstanding SUNY Oneonta seniors selected to receive a 2014 Academic Achievement Award. Each academic department or program selected one student to receive the award, and one senior was chosen to represent Oneonta's intercollegiate athletics program.

Beckwith, who majored in Theatre and Mass Communications at SUNY Oneonta, received the Department of Theatre award and selected John Bagby to accompany her as a faculty guest at a recognition reception this spring.

To be considered for the award, a student must be a senior with a minimum grade-point average of 3.5 in his or her major and must demonstrate exceptional academic improvement over four semesters; excellence in research; leadership and involvement in department, campus and community activities; and participation in academic and/or professional activities outside the college.

Beckwith is a member of the Lambda Pi Eta Communication Honor Society, where she served as secretary, and the Alpha Psi Omega Theatre Honor Society. She attained the Silver level in LEAD, the college's leadership program. She has been an active member for WIRE TV, the college's student-run TV station, including serving as a crewmember for two TV shows: "Hot Music Now" and "The Sideliners." She was also involved with the Oneonta Film Club, designing props, costumes and sets for the short film “Spooky Moontime.” For six semesters, she was a member of the Student Association Activities Council, serving on two activity-planning committees. She was a voting member of the Mask and Hammer theater club and has served as concessions manager, display case coordinator, and helped with ushering. She has worked in many capacities of the theatre, including three years as a carpenter in the scene shop, acting in three productions, working with the Apollo Music Club Opera productions, and serving as the dramaturge for the spring musical, “Carousel.” In the community, she she has been an active member of the Orpheus Theatre organization as an actor and technician.