Joy Pace, Executive & Artistic Director of IT,  was awarded the coveted Kennedy Center Medallion at the closing ceremony of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, Region 6 (KCACTF6) on February 28, 2015.  This Medallion is awarded to the top volunteers who run this complex, 6-state college theatre festival.  Joy Pace served as Chair for three years, preceded by her service as Vice-Chair and as Chair of the Student Directing Initiative and SDC.

Eight hundred students professors, and professional respondents attend this 6-state annual event, one of eight regional festivals nationwide.  The Festival celebrates and gives professional guidance to students who have submitted projects in their respective fields of specialty:  acting, directing, playwriting, stage management, scenic, lighting costume, makeup and sound design, to name some of the branches of this extensive festival.  Intensives in new play, short play and  the directing of these staged readings and invited full stage productions also occur, giving students opportunities to hone their crafts under the guidance of professionals.  Students from Arkansas, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Louisiana attend KCACTF6.

The concluding national festival occurs April 14-18 in Washington, D.C. at the Kennedy Center where the works of top awardees from the eight regions are recognized.