April 11, 2025
By Molly Urnek

Move aside, floppy discs. A $655,000 donation from the Sook Family Foundation is upgrading the tools available to USF School of Theatre and Dance students, enhancing the spaces where they stretch creativity and illuminate career paths. 

The gift established the Sook Family Fund for the Future, which supports improvements in the school’s performance venues and classroom equipment, giving students a competitive edge and a confidence boost to get hired and excel in the industry.

“I want students to be able to transition from this great school and have the training on the proper systems they need to have a real introduction into being a working professional,” says Victoria Rae Sook, Theatre ’11. “We aren’t working with floppy discs on Broadway anymore.” 

An award-winning director, choreographer and performer, Sook understands the need to grasp all facets of theater, from lighting and design to production and performance. Familiarity with industry-standard equipment fosters innovation, she says, and that’s necessary to stand out in a competitive industry. 

“Knowing what I can ask for and who I need to ask allows my creativity to grow with what’s technically possible on stage,” says Sook. “Being able to communicate effectively with projection and lighting designers while I’m directing elevates the entire picture.”
Perry Sook, founder and CEO of Nexstar Media and member of the Sook Family Foundation, says the state-of-the-art equipment must also be accessible and transferable. When students aren’t actively working on a production, they can still get hands-on experience with the new technology in the classroom and take it with them to performance venues. 

“Our faculty’s knowledge and our students’ interests far exceed the equipment we have,” says Jennifer Kokai, director of the school, part of the College of Design, Art and Performance.  “This gift will allow us to meet the needs of our students and best prepare them to be leaders in the industry.”

For students, the introduction of new technology is both exciting and relieving.

“Not having to worry about technology malfunctioning during a performance makes me very hopeful each production will feel less stressful,” says Amogha Kuppaa, who earns her bachelor’s degree in theater this spring. “I'm also excited to learn on new equipment so I can go into professional scenarios feeling as though my education has prepared me for the job.”
Beyond knowing the nuances of lighting and sound, the Sook family encourages holistic education for students, including learning how to find work and file taxes as an independent artist. 

Victoria Rae Sook appreciates that the school builds well-rounded graduates and offers the programs and opportunities students need to pursue their passions and grow in their professions.

 “Instead of trying to put me in a box, USF helped me become the artist I was supposed to be,” she says. “When young artists ask me what to do, I tell them to find a place that makes you the best version of yourself, and this university does just that.”
When the Sook family discussed making this gift, they knew they wanted to create lasting change for as many students as possible and break down barriers to success. 

“The most important thing to me is letting students know there is no one correct path to success,” says Sook. "Success is happiness in your art, and you can make art anywhere.”

Find the USF Giving Week cause that inspires you at usf.to/GivingWeek2025