Giving Thanks: Scholarship Helps Double Major Fulfill Dream of Becoming a Theatre Stage Manager
This December, members of our Fulbright College Family are sharing expressions of gratitude, letters of thanks and their appreciation for those who have helped make their educational journey possible.
Meet Carrigan Hughes, who thanks to the Theodora M. Hallin Memorial Scholarship Fund, is one step closer to her dream of becoming a production stage manager at a registered theatre or university.
Theodora M. Hallin Memorial Scholarship Fund Recipient Carrigan Hughes
Name: Carrigan Hughes
Hometown: Fayetteville, Arkansas
Graduation: 2026
Major(s)/Minor(s): Majoring in Theatre Design and Technology as well as German, with a minor in Psychology
Activities/Interests: Stage managing, playing videogames, reading sci-fi books and Korean webcomics, hanging out with family and friends, relaxing with my parrots, and beekeeping!
Career Aspirations: I would like to finish out my undergraduate degree at the University of Arkansas and then take a few years to get more practical working experience as a stage manager before then going to a graduate school program for an M.F.A. in stage management. From there, I want to either work as a production stage manager at a registered theater or at a university.
In her own words:
Dear Mr. David, Mrs. Pamela, and Mrs. Elizabeth Hallin,
First and foremost, I would like to extend my gratitude for your continued generous scholarship contribution toward the pursuit of my undergraduate degree.
It means far more than I could ever put into words to know that there are people willing and eager to help support the dreams of so many students and witnessing the direct impact it has had on my life reminds me to remain continually thankful.
As it has been a while, and I’d love to update you on my life circumstances. Once again, I am Carrigan Hughes, a sophomore undergraduate student attending the University of Arkansas while pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Design and Technology and German. I’ve since dropped my minor in Chemistry and replaced it with a minor in Psychology, as I find the subject more interesting.
I’ve kept up a 4.0 GPA, joined the German Honors Society: Delta Phi Alpha, and the general college Honors Society: Alpha Lambda Delta. I’ve picked up an interest in bee keeping and am preparing to start keeping my own hive.
This scholarship will help me to continue the pursuit of my degree as I move forward into my junior year at the university. Next year I will be finishing out the requirements for my German major and continuing the requirements for my Theatre major. I’ll be covering my lighting design class and working on my first musical, which I’m very excited for! I’m coming off of my first touring production run currently and am always eager for more experience.
Your donation has helped me to continue forward in this process by funding half a semester worth of classes, which will allow me to direct my funds towards transport, food, housing, and other expenditures as necessary. The decreased stress towards my academics will allow me to continue forward into my studies with my focus on my course work and the external support from donors like you reassures me that people see my dreams and want to help me attain them.
Once again, I want to sincerely extend my gratitude for your generous support. It has had the most wonderful effect on this previous year and the additional year of support now will have many new and wonderful impacts on me as well. The trajectory of my year would be very different otherwise, and I can’t wait to see how it plays out.
With a most sincere heart,
Carrigan Hughes
For more information about the Theodora M. Hallin Memorial Scholarship Fund or to make a year-end gift to support the college’s students, faculty, or staff, please contact Fulbright College’s Office of Development and External Relations at 479-575-3712 or fulbright@uark.edu.