Distinguished Alumni Award
COCA believes all students who participate in the arts gain confidence, discipline, and a diverse worldview. Some are able to combine those life skills with learned technique and natural talents to achieve success as professional artists. COCA proudly recognizes these former COCA students for their talents, dedication, and success in the arts by honoring them with the COCA Distinguished Alumni Award.
In addition to receiving prominent recognition on a Wall of Fame in COCA’s building, winners of the COCA Distinguished Alumni Award are recognized on the COCA stage at a special event and serve as role models and mentors for current COCA students.
Distinguished Alumni Award Nominations
Nominate yourself or a deserving COCA alum for consideration for the COCA Distinguished Alumni Award.
Past Recipients of COCA’s Distinguished Alumni Award
Amy Allen, Freelance Dance Professional
Hettie Barnhill, Freelance Dance Professional
Ronald Belger, Freelance Dance Professional
Brandon Bieber, Musical Theatre Professional
Will Bonfiglio, Professional Actor & Director of COCAbiz at COCA
Betsy Capes, Founder & Casting Director, Capes Coaching
Jodie Capes, Executive Director & Co-Founder, Capes Coaching
Greg Cuellar, Professional Actor
Jamal DeAndre, Professional Commercial Dancer & Entertainment Consultant
Joanna Dee Das, PhD, Dance Professor & Historian, Washington University in St. Louis
Sara Dobbs, Musical Theatre Professional
Antonio Douthit-Boyd, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater & Co-Artistic Director of Dance at COCA
Lisa Einstein, Dancer, Camille A. Brown and Dancers
Tracy Einstein, Faculty, American Academy of Dramatic Arts
Jo Firestone, Comedian/Writer, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Lesley Garrison, Mark Morris Dance Group
Elizabeth Giardina, Fashion Designer, Proenza Schouler, Derek Lam
Joe Grandy, Broadway Producer & Performer
Rodney Hamilton, Ballet Hispanico
Cornithea “Rio” Henderson, Professional Dancer & Choreographer
Lindsay Jones, Dance Heginbotham, Pam Tanowitz Dance
Chavo Killingsworth, Houston Ballet
Jacob Lewis, Dance Artist
Brie Lowry, Kentucky Ballet Theatre
Yvette Lu, Professional Actor & Performer
Joye Forrest Mack, Miss Missouri USA
Kelly Marsh IV, Complexions Contemporary Ballet
Kaitlyn Mayse, Professional Musical Theatre Actor & Dancer
Charles McCall, Royal New Zealand Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet
Jamie McKitrick, Musical Theatre Professional
Erin Moore, Phildanco
Leah Morrison, Trisha Brown Dance Company
Lauren Morrow, Arts Administrator, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Christopher Page-Sanders, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance
Christina Ramirez, Musical Theatre Professional
Kameron N. Saunders, Professional Choreographer
Jonathan Savage, Actor, Bad Cinderella
James Smith, Freelance Dance Professional
Brennan Stylez, Actor, Summer: The Donna Summer Musical
Jessica Taylor, DamageDance
Shacura Wade, Disney’s The Lion King
Jordan Ward, Professional Dancer
Mari Watson, Freelance Dance Professional Holly Wilder, Dancer & Choreographer, Founder of Wilder Project
Positions listed above reflect the professional positions at the time of award recognition.