We are proud to announce that the Board of Directors has awarded the 2006 Paul D. Browning & Jonathan Herrick Memorial Scholarship to Julia Sadowsky of Ludlow.  This is the first time that the scholarship has been awarded.  Julia has spent many summers with us in productions with the Exit 7 Youth Players, as well as in adult productions during the rest of the year.  At five years old, she was cast in "Big River" and that, as they say, was that - she had found her second home - the Exit 7 Theater!  Not only has Julia appeared in countless productions, she has also tried her hand at stage management for us.  Her contributions to the group over the years, as well as her well-prepared essay made the decision an easy one for the Board.

Julia plans to attend UMass as a Business Marketing major in the fall.  We wish her the best and send her our sincerest congratulations on her award!

Paul D. Browning was the librarian at Monson Junior-Senior High School, previously the head librarian at the Ludlow Public Library and the reference librarian at the South Hadley Public Library. He also served on the Ludlow Library Building Committee.

Born in Port Huron, Mich., he attended Holy Cross Catholic School in Marine City, Mich., and received a bachelor’s degree in English from Oakland University in Rochester, MI.  He received a mater of arts degree in English literature from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and a master of library science degree from the University of Rhode Island. He moved from Michigan to Granby in 1969.

He was a communicant of All Saints Episcopal Church in South Hadley, where he was a junior warden, a vestryman, chairman of the property committee, a building committeeman and a member of the Men’s Club.

He was a Woodrow Wilson Scholar and a founder, a director and a stage director of the Exit Seven Players in Ludlow. He belonged to the Granby Lions Club and wrote the town’s proposal for a cable television connection.

As one of our founding members, key supporters and long time friend we are pleased to provide this scholarship to other individuals who share his passion for the theatrical arts and Exit 7 Players.

Jonathan Herrick was also a founding member of the Exit 7 Players.  He was a producer, director, actor, long time board member, and eternal friend.  His contributions over the years helped establish the Exit 7 Players and ensure that the organization would be around for years to come.

His dedication and love for the theater is an inspiration for thespians young and old.