Madison Stevens ’26 has been selected as a recipient of the Peter Lorain ’66 Annual Scholarship for Theatre for the past two years.
At the time she received the scholarship last year, Madison was facing financial hardship and considering a break from her studies. “If I didn’t catch up on my student payments, I wouldn’t be able to register for the next semester of classes. I was considering all of my options, including taking a semester or two off to catch up on payments.”
Established in 2023 by Pete Lorain ’66 and Jan Burgess, the Peter Lorain ’66 Annual Scholarship for Theatre was created to provide opportunities to students who learn and grow through the theatre program, just as Pete once did. An endowed scholarship will continue to support generations of Pacific students thanks to Pete’s thoughtful estate planning.
In Pete’s early years at Pacific, his focus was drama and theatre. He reminiscences often on how much he learned from his time working with Professor Warren Pickett, performing on stage and studying plays. In his autobiography, he talks about the value he got from exploring experiences, both personal and vicarious, through assuming character roles: delving into human motivation, conflict, life's highs and lows, and its joys, challenges, and sorrows.
The education and experiences Pete had at Pacific provided a solid foundation for the accomplishments and successes he found later in life, as both an accomplished educator and leader who has served in roles from teacher to district director. He is honored to support students like Madison who learn and grow through theatre performance and go on to find their own future success.
For Madison, the scholarship meant all the difference for continuing on her path of purpose. “I am not exaggerating when I say this scholarship saved my academic life at Pacific. I don’t think I would have been able to register for classes for Spring 2024 without it.”
Madison is especially thankful for the recognition this arts-related scholarship provides, saying, “I feel recognized as an artist and it warms my heart that people value art so much that they fund an arts education for someone they haven't even met. These scholarships give me hope for my artistic future and my education would be near impossible without the extra help.”
After graduation, Madison plans to move on to graduate school to earn her master’s in education, saying, “I plan to go on to teach theatre and share my love for the arts.”
Gifts to scholarships and the Boxer Spirit Fund provide students like Madison with the critical support they need to pursue their goals. We are incredibly grateful to the donors who uplift our community and empower Pacific students to lead lives of purpose and service.