Theatre wins 39 awards at 2026 Texas Community College Speech and Theatre Association Play Festival

Panola College theatre earned top honors at the 2026 Texas Community College Speech and Theatre Association (TCCSTA) Play Festival, securing an impressive 39 awards for its productions of The Boys Next Door and …from Hardscrabble.

Hosted on the Panola College campus February 25 to 28, the Festival welcomed six community colleges from across Texas. Performances were held in the Q.M. Martin Auditorium and the Elizabeth R. Hedges Studio Theatre.

Panola College received 38 individual awards along with the prestigious Overall Excellence Award for the production of …from Hardscrabble.

Excellence in Technical Design Director’s/Professor’s Choice

Kayla Bell – Excellence in Dramaturgy, The Boys Next Door
Avery Caldwell – Excellence in Lighting Design, The Boys Next Door
Shane Hand – Excellence in Stage Management, The Boys Next Door
Daniel Hoover – Excellence in Dramaturgy, The Boys Next Door
Jewel Humberson – Excellence in Stage Management, The Boys Next Door

Superior in Technical Design Director’s/Professor’s Choice

Tessa Braden – Superior in Dramaturgy, …from Hardscrabble
Jewel Humberson – Superior in Hair / Make-up Design, …from Hardscrabble
Laiken Steward – Superior in Sound Design, …from Hardscrabble
Kayla Bell – Superior in Prop Design, …from Hardscrabble
Naomi Gilcrease – Superior in Costume Design, …from Hardscrabble
LeeAnna Milam – Superior in Prop Design, …from Hardscrabble

Excellent in Technical Design Respondent’s Choice

Tessa Braden – Excellent in Costume Design, The Boys Next Door
Naomi Gilcrease – Excellent in Costume Design, The Boys Next Door
Benjamin Clay – Excellent in Scenic Design, The Boys Next Door
Justin Wilkerson – Excellent in Scenic Design, The Boys Next Door

Superior in Technical Design Respondent’s Choice

James Burgess – Superior in Scenic Design, …from Hardscrabble
Jesse Goodman – Superior in Sound Design, …from Hardscrabble
Eddie Harris, II – Superior in Scenic Design, …from Hardscrabble
Steven Hollomond – Superior in Sound Design, …from Hardscrabble
Laiken Steward – Superior in Sound Design, …from Hardscrabble
Justin Wilkerson – Superior in Scenic Design, …from Hardscrabble

Audience Choice in Acting

Justin Wilkerson, The Boys Next Door and …from Hardscrabble

Director’s/Professor’s Choice in Acting

Ethan Miles, The Boys Next Door
Justin Wilkerson, …from Hardscrabble

Excellent in Acting Respondent’s Choice

James Burgess, …from Hardscrabble
Eddie Harris, II, The Boys Next Door
June LaGrone, The Boys Next Door and …from Hardscrabble
Ethan Miles, …from Hardscrabble

Superior in Acting Respondent’s Choice

Ethan Miles, The Boys Next Door
Kaylin Miller, …from Hardscrabble
Justin Wilkerson, The Boys Next Door and …from Hardscrabble

Memorial or Named Awards

LeeAnna Milam – Special Merritt Award, The Boys Next Door and …from Hardscrabble
Kaylin Miller – Bill Morton Award for Outstanding Acting, …from Hardscrabble
Justin Wilkerson – Greg Schneider Award for Best Technical Excellence and John Charles Corley Award for Best Technical Presentation, …from Hardscrabble
The Company – For the Production: Excellent and Respondents, …from Hardscrabble