Theresa Hayes, a 1975 graduate of Davis High School, was recently promoted to the position director of instruction at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Hollywood. The academy opened its doors in 1884 and is the oldest acting conservatory in the English-speaking world with campuses in New York and Hollywood.

Hayes graduated from Davis High at the age of 15 and subsequently received her bachelor of arts degree in theater arts from UCLA in 1979. While there, she was honored with the Carol Burnett Musical Theatre Award and was a runner-up for both the Hugh O’Brien Acting Award and the Frank Sinatra Music Award.

Her professional credits include the roles of Carol in “Tap Dance Kid,” Deena Jones in “Dreamgirls,” Cassie in “A Chorus Line,” Aldonza in “Man of La Mancha,” Anita in “West Side Story,” Rosie in “Bye Bye Birdie” and the Judith Jamison role in “Sophisticated Ladies,” where she won an NAACP Best Actress Award.

Her television credits include “Dynasty,” “Hill Street Blues,” “White Shadow,” “The Charmings,” “Matlock” and appearances in specials featuring Cheryl Ladd and Diana Ross. She also sang and danced in the nightclub acts of such legends as Juliet Prowse and Perry Como.

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Virginia Elizabeth Kelsen, the daughter of Charles and Blanche Shannon and a 1987 graduate of Davis High School, has received her Ph.D. in education, from Claremont Graduate University in Claremont. In addition, Kelsen has been appointed principal of Rancho Cucamonga High School in Rancho Cucamonga, a campus of about 3,400 students.

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Morgan Appezzato of Davis was named to the dean’s list at Quinnipiac University for the spring 2011 semester.

Quinnipiac is a private, coeducational, nonsectarian institution located 90 minutes north of New York City and two hours from Boston. Quinnipiac consistently ranks among the top regional universities in the North in U.S. News & World Report’s America’s Best Colleges issue. For more information, visit http://www.quinnipiac.edu.

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Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, has been honored for his continuing efforts to expand access and improve the quality and safety of patient care by the California Hospital Association.

Thompson is the recipient of CHA’s Health Care Champion Award, presented to select elected officials who demonstrate exceptional leadership on behalf of California’s hospitals and the patients they serve. The award was presented in June during a ceremony hosted by members of the Hospital Council of Northern and Central California.

As one of the largest health care trade associations in our nation, CHA represents more than 400 hospitals and health systems in California. The association provides its members with public policy development, issues management and legislative advocacy services at the state and federal levels. CHA has offices in Sacramento and Washington, D.C.

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Kerry Enright and Claire Waters received the UC Davis Graduate Student Association Award for Excellence in Service to Graduate Students. Enright an assistant professor in the School of Education and Waters is an associate professor in the department of English.

Each year the GSA accepts nominations from the graduate student community of faculty and staff members who go out of their way to support graduate students on campus. Submissions are evaluated based on how the nominee promotes and supports both graduate students’ academic achievement and personal well-being, provides support that reaches a broad audience and has a significant impact on individual students and contributes in ways that are above and beyond the scope and duties of the nominee’s position.

The nomination forms received on their behalf included a number of passionate letters of support from their current students.

Waters’ students praised her service as the graduate adviser for Ph.D. students in their department, her focus on mentorship and professional development and the invaluable advice and input she provides as a member of numerous exam and dissertation committees.

Enright’s students extolled her efforts to reduce graduate student isolation and anxiety, to foster academic as well as personal growth and to create an open and safe environment within the School of Education.

— Do you know of someone who has won an award or accomplished something noteworthy? Send it, preferably by email, to [email protected], or to Name droppers, The Davis Enterprise, P.O. Box 1470, Davis, CA 95617.

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