The Broadway hit musical "Hamilton" recently snagged eleven Tony Awards — a big win for its writer and star Lin-Manuel Miranda and director Thomas Kail, both Wesleyan University alumni. Wednesday the university announced a full-tuition scholarship in their honor.
The Wesleyan University Hamilton Prize for Creativity will be awarded to a student who has submitted a work of fiction, poetry, song, or creative non-fiction reflecting originality, artistry, and dynamism.
The winner will be selected by a panel of distinguished faculty and alumni, including Lin-Manuel Miranda and Thomas Kail.
Wesleyan President Michael Roth said Miranda and Kail exemplify, through "Hamilton," that a broad education is still relevant.
"They take a tradition of learning and education and they make it come alive through their own innovation, their own creative work," he said. "And so we thought it would be great to honor the achievements of Hamilton at a time when a lot of people are wondering whether we should continue to invest in liberal education."
Given the funding challenges in the arts and humanities, Roth said it’s up to places like Wesleyan to shine a bright light on the achievements of people in the arts.
"At a time of violence and of suffering and of hate, really, in the public sphere, it’s great to be reminded of the capacity of creative people to create experiences that build trust, that build affection, and that connect us to the best parts of our history," he said.
Interested students will be able to submit their creative work along with their application for admission through Wesleyan.
