The Peru Gazette

Bob and Judy Akey and Jeanette Woodruff received the awards

PLATTSBURGH — The Clinton Community College Foundation has honored three individuals with its annual Maureen Moll: Excellence in Community Theatre Award, recognizing their contributions to community theater and the performing arts in the North Country.

Bob and Judy Akey and Jeanette Woodruff received the awards during the Clinton Community College Alumni Association’s annual awards ceremony on Aug. 15.

The award recognizes individuals who exemplify the passion, dedication and community spirit of Maureen Moll, whose leadership and influence helped shape local theater for nearly five decades.

Bob and Judy Akey were recognized for nearly 40 years of service to community theater organizations throughout the region, including Adirondack Regional Theatre, Peru Music Theatre, Plattsburgh Community Players, Peru Drama Club and Artistry Community Theatre. Their contributions have spanned every aspect of theater production, from performing on stage and working behind the scenes to mentoring future performers and serving in volunteer leadership roles.

Woodruff was honored for more than 30 years of service as a music educator and mentor. She taught instrumental music in the Beekmantown and Saranac Central school districts and has guided countless young musicians through her private studio. For the past seven years, she has conducted pit orchestras for Artistry Community Theatre productions. She also serves as director of the After Five Brass Quintet and the Keeseville-Peru Ecumenical Choir and performs with the Adirondack Jazz Orchestra and Adirondack Wind Ensemble. In addition, she serves as the New York State School Music Association Zone 6 representative.

“Bob, Judy and Jeanette have devoted countless hours to enriching the cultural life of our region,” said CCC Foundation Executive Director Steve Frederick. “Their leadership and talent have inspired local performers, volunteers and audiences. Through their efforts, community theater continues to thrive and bring people together, which reflects the very legacy Maureen Moll worked to create.”

The Maureen Moll: Excellence in Community Theatre Award celebrates the enduring impact of live theater in the North Country and honors the individuals who carry that tradition forward. The award connects a rich history of community performance, from productions staged at Plattsburgh Air Force Base in 1965 to today’s vibrant theater organizations throughout the region.

Moll believed in the transformative power of community theater to unite people through creativity, collaboration and artistic expression. From 1965 until 2013, she helped shape countless productions while fostering friendships, developing talent and building a cultural legacy that continues to influence local theater today.

In 2012, members of Plattsburgh Little Theatre, including William D. Laundry, Frederick G. Smith, Judith Heintz, Vicky Sloan and Lee Ann Thomas, entrusted the Clinton Community College Foundation with funds to preserve Moll’s legacy. Clinton was a natural partner because of its longstanding collaborations with local theater organizations, including Plattsburgh Little Theatre, Adirondack Regional Theatre and Artistry Community Theatre.

For more information about the Clinton Community College Foundation, visit clinton.edu/alumni-and-foundation/foundation.