Linda Starkey, chairwoman of the School of Performing Arts at Wichita State University, has been awarded the Region V Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival Gold Medallion. It is the organization’s most prestigious award and considered one of the great honors in theater education.

The award will be presented to Starkey at the conclusion of WSU’s production of “Smokey Joe’s Café” Wednesday, Jan. 20, at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) in Minneapolis.

Each year, the festival honors individuals or organizations who have made extraordinary contributions to the teaching and producing of theater and who have supported KCACTF. Region V encompasses seven states.

Starkey, who has worked at Wichita State for 25 years, teaches voice, is program director of musical theater and has served in a variety of roles at the university and Wichita community. She has served as a music director, stage director, actor and pianist for more than 100 productions.

She is music director for the Music Theatre Wichita teen choir summer program, where she works with 40-60 high school students each year.

The School of Performing Arts will present a benefit performance of “Smokey Joe’s Café” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 15, in Wilner Auditorium. Tickets are available at the WSU Box Office at www.wichita.edu/FineArtsBoxOffice or 316-978-3233.