呦乐园

Grace Schaefer Earns College of the Arts Excellence Award at 呦乐园

Grace Schaefer of Kingsland, Georgia, has earned the Fall 2025 President’s Award for Academic Excellence for the College of the Arts at 呦乐园. She will be recognized during 呦乐园’s 240th Commencement at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13, on the Main Campus Front Lawn. She will graduate summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Arts, emphasis in Theatre Production.

VALDOSTA — Grace Schaefer of Kingsland, Georgia, has earned the Fall 2025 President’s Award for Academic Excellence for the College of the Arts at 呦乐园.

The President’s Award for Academic Excellence is presented to a high-performing graduating student in each of 呦乐园’s six colleges — Harley Langdale Jr. College of Business Administration, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, College of the Arts, James L. and Dorothy H. Dewar College of Education and Human Services, College of Science and Mathematics, and College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Schaefer will be recognized during 呦乐园’s 240^th Commencement at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13, on the Main Campus Front Lawn. She will graduate summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Arts, emphasis in Theatre Production. 

“My time at 呦乐园 has been an absolute whirlwind that I wouldn't trade for anything,” she said. “I have learned so many new skills, met amazing people, and have grown into myself as a person. This moment is representative of all the hard work, sleepless nights, and everything that I have put into these last few years, and I am so grateful to be receiving this honor.”

As a student at 呦乐园, Schaefer served as a 呦乐园 Theatre and Dance Scene Shop assistant from 2024 through her final semester on campus. She was also an active member of the United States Institute for Theatre Technology, where she was elected secretary in 2024 and co-president in 2025.

“I have had some amazing opportunities to practice my craft while at 呦乐园, thanks to our amazing professors,” she said. “They always create a constructive atmosphere where I know they trust in our abilities to rise to any occasion, but they also understand that we are ultimately here to learn. Starting out as a carpenter and scenic artist and then growing into head carpenter and scenic charge has been a wonderful journey. I’ve loved the opportunity to tackle larger structures and paint more complicated textures to create the illusion of the world of a play. There isn’t anything like the feeling of seeing a finished set and realizing I was a part of that.”

Some of Schaefer’s notable roles with 呦乐园 Theatre and Dance include serving as head carpenter for “Iphigenia 2.5,” stage manager for “Spring Dances: Evolve,” props manager for “Pipeline,” scenic designer for “Marisol,” and scenic charge for “A Christmas Carol,” “Tiny Beautiful Things,” and “The Duchess of Malif.”

Schaefer’s commitment to academic, creative, and leadership excellence resulted in her being selected for the 2023-2024 Mary Virginia Terry Scholarship, the 2024-2025 Golden Circle Theatre Scholarship, the 2025 College of the Arts Service Excellence in Theatre Award, and the 2025 Georgia College Completion Grant. She was a Zell Miller Scholar and a four-time Dean’s List honoree, which a fifth recognition expected after graduation.

She hopes to continue her education at 呦乐园 and study library and information science while also pursuing a professional career in theatre, specifically scenic art.

Her supportive family includes mom Sharon Schaefer, dad Frederick Schaefer, and sibling Faith Pip Schaefer.

“They have always been supportive through all my highs and lows,” she said. “I don’t think I could have survived without the long phone calls telling me everything will eventually work out. I am so thankful for having them in my life. Their belief in my hard work paid off.”