HILLSDALE — Pascack Valley High School Theatre reported that four senior students earned top honors at the Speech & Theatre Association of New Jersey (STANJ) Governor’s Awards Competition on Saturday, Jan. 10.
Seniors Ethan Lekaj and Jake Wawra placed fourth in Comedic Pairs Scenes, while seniors Kayla Klas and Anna Stern placed sixth in the same category, the program said.
PV Theatre, led by Tom Lupfer and Merielle Lupfer, described the program as award-winning and focused on presenting “work of artistic and thematic significance.” Tom Lupfer received the 2025 New Jersey Governor’s Award in Arts Education for Outstanding Teacher of Theatre, according to the release. The Lupfers have also received the Jo-Ann Fox Award for Outstanding Theatre Teacher or Director and the Foxy Award for Best Direction of a Musical for their 2021 production of Little Shop of Horrors.
The annual STANJ Governor’s Awards Competition brings together high school theatre students from across the state to compete in performance categories.
For more information, visit pvhstheatre.org.