April 9, 2025
Every spring Oakland University’s School of Music, Theatre and Dance recognizes distinguished students, faculty, staff, and community members with MaTilDa Awards, which are named to honor Matilda Dodge Wilson, who donated the land on which Oakland University is built.
This year's award recipients will be recognized at the following events:
• Dance: Young Choreographers Forum, Saturday, April 12
• Music: Gala Concert, Saturday, April 12
• Theatre: Senior Celebration, Tuesday, April 15
This year's award recipients include:
2025 Student Honorees
2025 MTD Award
John Scott
Distinguished Musicianship Award
Collin Arena
Outstanding Student in Opera
Montana King
Outstanding Student in Voice Performance
Aidan Laidlaw
Outstanding Student in Piano Performance
Martyna Gogolkiewicz
Outstanding Student in Instrumental Music
Dallas Kelly
Jennifer Scott Memorial Award
Antonio Perez Chavez
Outstanding Student in Music Education
Alexia Przyojski
Outstanding Student in Jazz
Collin Arena
Outstanding Student in Vocal Jazz
Cayla Stus
Outstanding Student in World Music
Bella Barba
Outstanding Student in Music Technology
Josh Fuzi
Outstanding Music Student Service Award
Dustin Freeman
Distinguished Community Service Award
Dawn and Ed Pauli
Alumni Achievement Award
Joe Santoni
Outstanding Student in Chamber Music
Chase Meister (Ursa Major)
Outstanding Student in Chamber Music
Tommy Plotzke (Ursa Major)
Outstanding Student in Chamber Music
Ian Mahoney (Ursa Major)
Outstanding Student in Chamber Music
Dallas Kelly (Ursa Major)
Gittlen Award for Acting
Emily Kloc
Gittlen Award for Musical Theatre
Alexander Hernandez
Gittlen Award for Theatre Design and Technology
Bailey Graham
Gittlen Award for Theatre
Matthew Sell
Department of Theatre Service Award
Alexa Huss
Meadow Brook Estate Award
Lilija Shuger
Department of Theatre EDI/Social Justice Award
Ash Ritter
Distinguished Dance Student Award
Jada Givens
Outstanding Dance Performance Award
April Thweatt
Outstanding Student Service Award
Megan Makulski
2025 Faculty & Staff Honorees
5+ Years of Service
Jayshankar Balan
Laura Blanchard
Denise Caston Clark
Catherine Dacpano
Sean Delaney
Marion Hayden
Lauri Hogle
Stacey Jamison
Garnett Kepler
Stephen Komer
Amanda Lehman
Brandon LePage
Randall Magner
Gayelynn McKinney
Teresa Muller
Mary Murphy
Una O’Riordan
Renee Petkovski
Elizabeth Riga
Domonique Rose
Ralph Skiano
Marina Stojanovska
Sara Wolf
10+ Years of Service
Dennis Curry
David Denniston
Patrick Fitzgibbon
Beth Guest
William Gwinnell
Roman Kosarev
Michael List
Melissa Maloney
Timothy Michling
Hannah Watson
I-Chen Yeh
15+ Years of Service
Alissa Hetzner
Bret Hoag
Sam Jeyasingham
Amanda Sabelhaus
Jeffery Zook
20+ Years of Service
Lois Kaarre
Zeljko Milicevic
Victoria Shively
Kristen Tait
Christina Tasco
25+ Years of Service
Barbara Bland
Ricky Carver
Cathy Dubin
Rebecca Happel
Mark Kieme
Elizabeth Rowin
Milica Vukasovich
Phyllis White
For more information about the MaTilDa Awards, visit www.oakland.edu/smtd/community-engagement/matildas/