Cody Rogers ’21 graduated with a bachelor’s in theatre teacher education and an endorsement in psychology. He was surprised and thrilled to be awarded the Diana Corley Schnapp Endowed Scholarship. “I felt the financial weight I have always been carrying get lighter, and I could breathe more easily,” he said.

During his senior capstone class in theatre education in fall 2020, Rogers directed part of a completely virtual theatrical production involving high school students in the Bloomington-Normal area. “The whole experience was an amazing learning opportunity,” he said, “and I had so much fun working with my cast.”

Rogers completed his student teaching in the spring of 2021 at Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz K-12 in Chicago. He taught virtual theatre classes to high school students. Theatre is one of Rogers’ passions, and working with students brings him an immense amount of joy.

“I believe theatre can provide a safe space for high school students to be themselves and grow to find what they are passionate about in life,” Rogers said. “I am so excited to be able to create that place for my future high school students.”

Rogers hopes to obtain a master’s degree, and eventually, a doctorate, with the goal of teaching as a theatre or theatre education professor.