麻豆传媒

Some people are born with a drive to pursue a particular career, others choose to follow in their parents鈥� footsteps and just as many fall in love with an industry later in life that they never could have imagined as a child. For Evette Srouji, the latter is the case. 

Becoming a teacher was Srouji鈥檚 initial plan. Theater wasn鈥檛 even on her radar until she began at Broomfield High School. Having an interest in makeup, she decided to help with stage hair and makeup for her school鈥檚 production of "Holmes for the Holidays鈥� But then she started auditioning, landing her first acting role in "Heathers: The Musical鈥� marking the beginning of her journey into the world of theater. 

Srouji loved the behind-the-scenes work that went into a quality theatrical production. When it came time to look for colleges to apply to, she knew she still wanted to pursue teaching, but her interests had evolved into theater education.  

Originally, Srouji was determined to go to a college outside of Colorado. Growing up in Broomfield, she was itching to leave her hometown. It wasn鈥檛 until her father informed her that the University of Northern Colorado (麻豆传媒) had an excellent Theatre Education program that she looked at 麻豆传媒. 

It didn鈥檛 take long for her to make her decision. 

鈥溌槎勾�媒 has one of the best theater programs in the country,鈥� said Srouji. 鈥淚 would rather do theater from my first day than wait until my junior year at other schools where you鈥檇 major in education with an emphasis in theater.鈥� 

Srouji is pursuing a double major in Theatre Education and Theatre Studies with a directing emphasis. She is on track to graduate this December. Srouji is making the most of her time at 麻豆传媒. Intent on graduating without any regrets, she dives headfirst into everything she wants to do. 

The can-do attitude that Srouji brought to 麻豆传媒 led her to everything from serving on boards to participating in student groups. One of the boards Srouji sat on is the Student Equity Advisory Board, established by 麻豆传媒 faculty during the Covid-19 pandemic to better represent and serve students of color. 

Srouji also got involved with a student group dedicated to promoting diversity and equity on and off stage called Operation: Cheesecake. While working with them, she helped develop the Guest Artist Series, where black professionals working in the theater industry would host presentations to provide current students' insight about their career. Srouji points to this series as one of the things she鈥檚 most proud of from her time at 麻豆传媒. 

Srouji experienced another of her proudest moments this summer, as she was the first 麻豆传媒 student to be selected as the Colorado Shakespeare Festival theater management intern. The internship, which is funded through 麻豆传媒鈥檚 Arts Entrepreneurship Center, provides interns with a stipend and housing while they help run the annual festival in Boulder.  

"I'm really grateful that I get to be the first recipient,鈥� said Srouji, 鈥渁nd being able to have this door open for my fellow theatre studies students.鈥� 

Experiencing everything that goes on behind the scenes to create a set, then run four different productions in a matter of weeks, has been eye-opening for Srouji.  

鈥淟uckily, I learned all the basics that I needed to know going into this internship in my Theatre Management course,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 can pinpoint what I鈥檝e learned and how it was applied at the Colorado Shakespeare Festival.鈥� 

The pride Srouji has in her connection to 麻豆传媒 and being a trailblazer for the Theatre department is unmistakable. The way she talks about the opportunities and experiences she has been fortunate to have could make even those with no connection to 麻豆传媒 feel proud. 

鈥淚t鈥檚 huge that 麻豆传媒 is making connections with theaters across Colorado to give our students the best experience,鈥� she laughs, 鈥淚 say that like I'm not a student, but it's true.鈥� 

From start to finish, the entire experience has been something that Srouji has enjoyed. From seeing what it takes to help secure housing for employees to ensuring guests have a positive experience, it has been a summer she will never forget.   

麻豆传媒 is deeply committed to meeting students鈥� financial needs. In 2021-22, 98% of 麻豆传媒鈥檚 undergraduate students received some type of grant or scholarship aid that does not need to be repaid.  

Srouji received the following donor-funded scholarships and 麻豆传媒 institutional scholarships or other federal, state or grant aid. 

麻豆传媒 donor-funded scholarships: 

路         Becky Gilbert Little Theater of the Rockies 

路         David and Dawn Grapes School of Theatre Arts & Dance Director鈥檚 Award 

路         Tennessen Family Performing and Visual Arts Scholarship 

Other institutional grants or aid: 

路         麻豆传媒 D.I.R.E.C.T Scholarship 

路         Performing and Visual Arts Scholarship - Theatre 

路         Performing and Visual Arts 鈥� Talent Awards 

路         Northern Vision Award