The Knourek Award

Celebrating Pam Knourek’s service to UNCSA, this scholarship was created to help graduating MFA Costume Technology students pursue their creative and professional goals.

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Christine Field, costume designer, (UNCSA MFA ’93) created this fund to celebrate Pam Knourek, codirector of the UNCSA Costume Design and Technology programs. This award is intended to honor the work behind the scenes that often goes unrecognized; the work that is essential to a designer’s process and final realization of their design. Pam has been instrumental in training and guiding the next generation of technologists and Christine wants to honor her work and that of her students.

Pam is an alum of the class of ’91 and was faculty member from 2002-2024. Pam was a faculty member for both BFA and MFA teaching courses in costume fundamentals, costume technology and costume management. Her extensive costume technology experience includes over 20 seasons with the Santa Fe opera, seven years with The Guthrie Theatre (where they created a position for her talents upon completion of her MFA) and numerous film and television credits. Pam has also been recognized with an UNCSA Excellence in teaching award, Who’s Who in American Teachers and as a Cirque du Soleil University Partner. A member of various professional organizations, she has been a member of USITT since 1988 and a cofaculty sponsor of the Student Chapter at UNCSA since 2004.

Pam invited Chris to be part of the intensive arts classes several times which led to them establishing a partnership through “Freak Fight” with Jonathan Judge and co-creator Jeremy Slutskin. Pam created a yearlong course of study called "The Monster Class” for undergraduate and graduate students to take designs and build six character/creatures with fully realized animatronics and then filmed a proof of concept for the project. A multidisciplinary endeavor, Pam coordinated across various disciplines including the design, wig, special effects and makeup teams.

Always humble, Pam would say she is proudest of the alumni and the legacy they have created. Her commitment to teaching and her students is unparalleled.