Gena Yvonne Sims, First Place, 2019 NSAL Drama Competition, Carnegie Mellon University Graduate

Washington, DC — Nov. 13, 2019 – The National Society of Arts & Letters has awarded its 2019 drama competition prizes to seven winners, one of whom is Pittsburgh actress, Gena Yvonne Sims. Sims, a graduate of the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama, took home the first-place $15,000 Nicholson-Nielsen Award.

She was selected to represent the NSAL Pittsburgh Chapter nationally after winning first place in its own drama competition.

"Winning the NSAL National Competition in Drama gave me this guttural, overwhelming feeling that my dreams can, and are beginning to, come true,” said Sims. “It meant so much to me to know the society and its judges believed in me and had given so much of themselves to support my dreams. I feel I owe it to the society and everyone who's ever believed in me to work harder, work better, and pursue my career with fervor and tenacity.”