MARQUETTE, MI-- A former director of NMU’s Forest Roberts Theatre has bequeathed more than $1 million for an award and scholarship.
James Panowski—known as “Dr. P.”—died in May of last year. Before he passed he requested the money go to the Mildred and Albert Panowski Playwriting Award and the James A. Panowski Theatre Scholarship.
Panowski moved to Marquette in 1977. Nothern Michigan University established a playwriting award that same year, administered by the Shiras Institute. In 1993 Dr. P. became the sole benefactor of the Mildred and Albert Panowski Playwriting Award.
In 1994 Dr. P. received NMU’s Distinguished Faculty Award. In 2009, to celebrate his retirement, family and friends established a theatre scholarship in his name. It provides support for undergraduate and graduate students who major or minor in theater.
