Creative contributions to campus life have earned Benjamin Ros ’14 of Pawling, N.Y., and Robert “Robbie” Sellers ’14 of Centerville, Ohio, the Franklin Miller Award for the 2013 fall semester.
Ros was nominated by Janet McAdams, Robert P. Hubbard Professor in Poetry and professor of English, who complimented his work designing “stunning, professional-quality posters” to promote appearances by visiting writers hosted by the Department of English, Department of Modern Languages & Literatures, the Kenyon Review and other offices. Visiting writers have had high praise for the volunteer work done by Ros to enhance their visits.
“His contribution has been both unusual and significant,” McAdams said. “I think it exemplifies one of the best things about Kenyon, how much learning takes place outside the classroom.”
Sellers was nominated by Jennifer Marcellana, adjunct instructor of voice and director of the Opera and Music Theater Workshop, who described him as “a very dedicated and hard-working student.” What distinguishes Sellers has been his “commitment to excellence” in student-directed music theater through Brave Potato Productions. Sellers directed the musicals Urinetown and Ordinary Days and has volunteered as stage director during the music theater workshop.
“I feel that Robbie excels as a staging director and that his staging work is of professional quality,” she said, adding that Sellers “helped fill an important need in the Kenyon student theater community.”
Award winners were chosen by Interim Provost Joe Klesner and Dean of Students Hank Toutain. Winners receive a $250 credit at the College Bookstore. The award was established by Edward T. "Chip" Ordman '64 in honor of Miller, who was a distinguished member of the Department of Physics, textbook author, and community mainstay.