| The New Jersey Governor's Awards in Arts Education cosponsored with the Alliance for Arts Education |
Outstanding Teacher
A STANJ member may make a self-nomination or nominate another worthy teacher.
Criteria:
1. The nominee must be a member of STANJ
2. The nominee must have a minimum of three recommendations, including one from an
administrator or teacher, and one from a student or parent.
3. The nominee must prepare a portfolio of his or her work.
4. The nomination must be filed by January 31st.
2011 Recipient: Sandi Van Dyke
Distingushed Service Award
A STANJ member may nominate an administrator, supervisor, or community person who has
helped your program, or has helped support the arts for students in NJ.
Criteria:
1. The nominee must have demonstrated exceptional service to the arts.
2. The nominee must be active in supporting speech or theatre education programs.
3. The nominee must be a resource for teachers of speech and theatre.
4. The nomination must be filed by January 31st.
2011 Recipient: Cynthia Meryl
A nomination may be made by contacting a
STANJ Board Member
for further information.
A STANJ member may make a self-nomination or nominate another worthy teacher.
Criteria:
1. The nominee must be a member of STANJ
2. The nominee must have a minimum of three recommendations, including one from an
administrator or teacher, and one from a student or parent.
3. The nominee must prepare a portfolio of his or her work.
4. The nomination must be filed by January 31st.
2011 Recipient: Sandi Van Dyke
Distingushed Service Award
A STANJ member may nominate an administrator, supervisor, or community person who has
helped your program, or has helped support the arts for students in NJ.
Criteria:
1. The nominee must have demonstrated exceptional service to the arts.
2. The nominee must be active in supporting speech or theatre education programs.
3. The nominee must be a resource for teachers of speech and theatre.
4. The nomination must be filed by January 31st.
2011 Recipient: Cynthia Meryl
A nomination may be made by contacting a
STANJ Board Member
for further information.
Sandi graduated from Trenton State College, receiving a degree in Speech and Theatre
Education, and received her Masters in Theatre and Broadcasting from Montclair State
University and a supervisor’s certificate from Kean University.
Currently, Sandi is the elected NJ State Chapter Director of the Educational Theatre
Association, the parent organization of the International Thespian Society. She is also on the
Executive Board of the Speech and Theatre Association of NJ. In past 25 years, Sandi has
the distinction of holding every office on the Executive Board including President for
numerous terms.
As a theatre educator, she has sponsored her school’s thespian troupes at three
different schools, taking her students to the annual state festival every single year. They
have also participated in the annual North East Thespian Festival and in the national festival
in Muncie, IN and Lincoln, NE, at least eight times over the years.
Her students have competed every single year for the Governor’s Awards in Acting,
winning awards in almost every single category, including the annual scholarship awarded
to a senior. She and her students have garnered nominations and awards in the Paper Mill
Playhouse Rising Star awards every single year since its inception and also participated in
the Paper Mill Playhouse Adopt-a-School program at each of the three schools where she
has taught.
Congratulations, Sandi! It is clear you are a dedicated and inspiring teacher in the arts!
Education, and received her Masters in Theatre and Broadcasting from Montclair State
University and a supervisor’s certificate from Kean University.
Currently, Sandi is the elected NJ State Chapter Director of the Educational Theatre
Association, the parent organization of the International Thespian Society. She is also on the
Executive Board of the Speech and Theatre Association of NJ. In past 25 years, Sandi has
the distinction of holding every office on the Executive Board including President for
numerous terms.
As a theatre educator, she has sponsored her school’s thespian troupes at three
different schools, taking her students to the annual state festival every single year. They
have also participated in the annual North East Thespian Festival and in the national festival
in Muncie, IN and Lincoln, NE, at least eight times over the years.
Her students have competed every single year for the Governor’s Awards in Acting,
winning awards in almost every single category, including the annual scholarship awarded
to a senior. She and her students have garnered nominations and awards in the Paper Mill
Playhouse Rising Star awards every single year since its inception and also participated in
the Paper Mill Playhouse Adopt-a-School program at each of the three schools where she
has taught.
Congratulations, Sandi! It is clear you are a dedicated and inspiring teacher in the arts!
Cynthia exemplifies everything that STANJ stands for. She is dedicated to fostering
excellence in the theatre arts; to promoting the arts in academic study and advocating on
behalf of Arts professions. Cynthia is a theatre professional who has made a real difference
in the artistic lives of young people across the state of New Jersey.
She was recently chosen by the Newark Star Ledger as one of the Ten New Jersey artists
who are making a difference in their craft and has a significant impact on middle and high
school students everywhere.
The New Jersey Youth Theatre, a school that she runs, was twice awarded the Citation of
Excellence from the NJ State Council on the Arts. But it is from the summer NJPAC youth
program that most people know her. The youth program begins in May and runs through
August with a new play produced each year. Approximately 100+ students are involved in
these productions as actors, dancers, musicians and technical workers. Under her direction,
the students come to the NJPAC every day for 6 weeks, and are treated like equity
performers (even to selecting their own cast representatives to arbitrate conflicts!).
Cynthia also wrote a musical version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream that was performed
on Broadway by her students. In fact, this particular show is still in the process of getting
produced in New York City.
Cynthia Meryl has been serving the kids of New Jersey for over 20 years.
STANJ is thrilled to present her with this prestigious Governor’s Award in the Arts!
excellence in the theatre arts; to promoting the arts in academic study and advocating on
behalf of Arts professions. Cynthia is a theatre professional who has made a real difference
in the artistic lives of young people across the state of New Jersey.
She was recently chosen by the Newark Star Ledger as one of the Ten New Jersey artists
who are making a difference in their craft and has a significant impact on middle and high
school students everywhere.
The New Jersey Youth Theatre, a school that she runs, was twice awarded the Citation of
Excellence from the NJ State Council on the Arts. But it is from the summer NJPAC youth
program that most people know her. The youth program begins in May and runs through
August with a new play produced each year. Approximately 100+ students are involved in
these productions as actors, dancers, musicians and technical workers. Under her direction,
the students come to the NJPAC every day for 6 weeks, and are treated like equity
performers (even to selecting their own cast representatives to arbitrate conflicts!).
Cynthia also wrote a musical version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream that was performed
on Broadway by her students. In fact, this particular show is still in the process of getting
produced in New York City.
Cynthia Meryl has been serving the kids of New Jersey for over 20 years.
STANJ is thrilled to present her with this prestigious Governor’s Award in the Arts!
