Five members of the Columbia College arts program were recently recognized for their long-standing and active support of the Tri-District Arts Consortium (TRIDAC) program. The honorees are:

Martha A. Brim, professor of dance	Wrenn Cook, lecturer and dance program coordinator
Stephen R. Nevitt, professor of art and art program coordinator	Alice T. Martin, administrative assistant for arts and communication studies
Dr. Lillian Quackenbush, professor of music (retired)

The honorees received a plaque in recognition of their long-term support of the arts education program. TRIDAC also announced a new student award established in Steve Nevitt's honor, the "Outstanding Artist Award." Nevitt said he was very "touched and humbled" to be recognized for his involvement with TRIDAC, which was hosted by Columbia College for 23 years until the program relocated to the Palmetto Center for the Arts in 2009. "I didn't serve in a formal role, but over the years helped prepare studios for their summer use, checked to make sure visual arts had what they needed, juried their final exhibitions, and just pitched in as needed," he added.
 
TRIDAC director Donna Wilson said, "The support of the entire Columbia College fine arts faculty and administration through the years has been much of the reason for the program's success." Wilson noted that both Wrenn Cook and Martha Brim have served as directors of the TRIDAC dance program. Dr. Lillian Quackenbush served multiple terms on the TRIDAC board and Alice Martin has worked with Tri-DAC for the duration of the program and served on the Arts Partnership Steering Committee which wrote the "Five-Year Comprehensive Plan" for Tri-DAC.
 
Wilson added, “We also honor Patrick Faulds, Columbia College’s artistic technical director, who has served as technical director for Tri-DAC for 20 years. While the awards went to those who are no longer working with the program, we are delighted that he has been able to continue working with us during his own time and build the set for our Tri-DAC theatre production. Patrick has been and continues to be a vital part of our program.”
 
"We look forward to our 25th anniversary next summer, during which we want to really honor and thank the Columbia College administration, staff and faculty for their tremendous and significant contribution to the program and to the lives of the many students served," added Wilson.
 
 
About TRIDAC
TRIDAC offers summer programs for gifted students who are nominated and successfully complete an application process including an audition and/or portfolio review in visual arts, dance, music, creative writing or theatre in the Lexington One, Lexington/Richland Five and Richland Two school districts.