This list highlights a few events in the Wise Foundation activities.
1991
Worcester Institute for Students of Europe (WISE) founded by Dr. Hanson.
First students arrive from Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
Students lived at 33 Institute Road in Worcester, the home of Dr. Hanson, President and Executive Director. Mary G. Laband, M.B.A, was hired as Administrative Director.
1992
WISE begins offering summer exchange programs for American medical students. First European Meeting held in Bratislava, Slovakia
1993
Second European Meeting held in Prague, Czech Republic.
Program expands to students in Poland.
1994
Third European Meeting held in Olomouc, Czech Republic.
Program expands to students in Yugoslavia and Slovenia. Program initiates an exchange with the Worcester Art Museum for a student from Pushkin, Russia.
WISE program began housing participant and extensively renovating a house on 157-159 Highland Street in Worcester.
1995
Program name legally changed to Worcester Institute for Student Exchange (WISE). Fourth European Meeting held in Budapest, Hungary.
Program expands to students in Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, Albania and Israel.
Eric Ranvig was hired as Assistant Director to oversee renovations and program development. Constance Whitehead Hanks, with her background in international student affairs at Clark University, was hired consultant for student concerns.
1996
Fifth European Meeting held in Bratislava, Slovakia.
Program initiates a music exchange involving classical musicians from Bratislava and a jazz guitarist from Jamaica.
Dr. Hanson, and with him the WISE psychiatry-track participants, began work in Bangor, Maine.
1997
Program expands to house up to two psychiatry-track students in Bangor, Maine. Arrival of research-track students regularizes to two new students every two months.
Barbara Guidotti hired as Administrative Assistant to the WISE program in Bangor, Maine.
1998
Sixth European Meeting held in Zakopane, Poland.
Mary Laband moves with her family to Tennessee, and David DeSmith replaces her as Administrative Director.
1999
Program begins to use the title Worcester Institute Supporting Exchange of culture and science (WISE). Legal name remains Worcester Institute for Student Exchange (WISE).
Dr. Robert Humphreys left his position as a student advisor at UMass to focus on his biotechnology company. David DeSmith moves to become the priest for an Episcopalian parish in Western Massachusetts, and Eric Ranvig replaces him as Administrative Director; Robert (Bobby) Laferriere is hired as Assistant Director of Administration in Worcester.
2000
Some WISE Psychiatry-track participants begin to be housed in Acton, MA.
2001
Program expands to students in the Ukraine.
Keith Reed is hired to oversee renovations in Worcester
2002
Sarah Shapiro, an undergraduate at Harvard and a summer intern with WISE facilitated and edited the Twelve Year Report and establish an Alumni Database to be available to incoming students searching for a position and for advice from previous participants.
2003
Michal Cerny, WISE participant, researched data on previous WISE participants, whose profiles are included in this book. Jeremy Jamieson, a Colby College undergraduate, and summer intern with WISE finalized the report and assisted with editing and publication.
2005:
The WISE program of medical student exchange continue and a music student exchange is initiated with the conservatory in Bydgoszcz, Poland. In autumn WISE celebrates it fifteenth year in a meeting in Hungary. A morning of medical updates is presented. Music students from Poland and Slovakia attend the meeting and perform.
Longtime WISE bookkeeper Bobby Laferriere resigned, moving to Maryland to assist aging parents.
2006:
The WISE program of medical student exchange continues. The WISE office moved to Acton, and the WISE property in Worcester was sold, making possible the purchase of two condominia in Budapest. The WISE private foundation in Hungary was established and a program in art was developed in addition to continuation of the medical student program in Hungary. A fellowship in history of science and medicine was provided to Rainer Broemer, Visiting Scholar at Harvard, who also helped document the history of the WISE Foundation.
2007:
The medical student exchange program continues.
Zoltan Bokanyi joins Keeler Ranvig in administration of the WISE foundation in Hungary and in management of the WISE property in Budapest. American medical students in exchange program reside for the first time in WISE apartments in Budapest.
The WISE program in the USA expands by hosting economics students from Omsk, Russia. European meeting of WISE is held in Moravia, with musicians from Poland and a program of medical updates.
2008:
Medical student exchange program continues.
WISE in collaboration with the Boston Ballet invites students from the Kirov School in St. Petersburg for exchange student program.
WISE initiates program of awards for deserving individuals in the performing arts. It honors Austin Ku as the first WISE award recipient for his performance in Adrift in Macau at the Lyric Stage Theater.
2009:
Hired Dr. Alan Francis, a Psychology research mentor, to assist WISE medical students with research projects exploring the field of clinical psychiatry.
2010:
WISE extends its program in the performing arts to New Hampshire.
2011:
WISE and Boston Conservatory together sponsor an event celebrating the birthday of WISE president and founder Dr. Hanson and WISE donates a chair to the Boston Conservatory's new auditorium. WISE which has had an ongoing interest in the Bates Dance Festival located in Lewiston, Maine initiated an emerging artist award program, there and granted an award to John Hoobyar, known there fondly as "Festival John."
2012:
WISE expands program to Connecticut and visits the Festival of New Artists at Goodspeed campus, a three-day festival that provides the opportunity for aspiring artists to further develop their projects.
2013:
WISE visits university of Hartford and provides a small grant for the Hartt School, which is the University of Hartford's conservatory of music, theater, and dance.
Design and Renovation Semester in Hungary (Budapest, Hungary) August 2013
If you can, please join us at the bookstore cafe at Muzeum Kavezo on Sunday,December 1st from four to seven (or as much of that interval as suits your schedule). December 2013
2014:
Physician of the year award is granted to Csaba Barta, M.D. for outstanding contributions to Medicine and Medical Education.
Sponsoring and organizing music and dance festival in Acton, MA on October 14. Orchestra conducted by Jonathan Brennan.
2015:
Wise provides grant to New England Conservatory Preparatory School for orchestral training in May, 2015.
2016:
Wise foundation website is reorganized by a web designer Trevor Hennigan.
Wise Foundation launches a program in collaboration with Donna Vaughn to provide stipends and Metropolitan Opera tickets for opera students at the Manhattan School of Music.
2017
WISE started Support to Students Getting Education (STAGE) Action, a program that focuses on student and early career artists.
WISE cooperates with Farmington Valley Symphony Orchestra in organizing a concerto performance featuring early career musicians.
Wise organizes concert featuring early career musicians “Simon Varallyay and friends” at South Acton Congregational Church on December 17.
2018
Wise organizes second concerto performance in cooperation with Farmington Valley Symphony Orchestra featuring early career artists.
2019
Wise organizes award program with College Light opera in Falmouth, MA in July 2019.
Wise organizes award program with Peterborough Players in August 2019.
2020
Wise foundation temporarily suspends programs due to Covid-19 pandemic.
Wise foundation award recipiants:
2010
Randy Harrison for End Game March 25, 2010 at Burkshire Theatre
Kelsey Bevins at Peterborough Players 2010
Stephen Mir Peterborough Players 2010
Ryan Obermeier for Tartuffe at Peterboro Players 2010
Jimmy Larkin for Hairspray WISE Outstanding New Artist of the Year Award
Michael Duling ICONS 2010 Post Office Cafe and Cabaret, Provincetown
Matthew Patrick for Tartuffe at Peterborough Players 2010
Chris Pullerits for Kiss Me Kate 2010
Eric Johnson, award for Cabaret at ART/BOCO theatre
Cameron Oro, grant for Tartuffe at Peterborough Players Theatre
2011
Matthew Ortner for Fast Forward on 11/6/11 – awarded 12/11/11 Boston Conservatory Theater
Sean Jones for Curtains Choreographer’s Showcase 2011 at the Zack Box
Nathan Hancock for Twelfth Night on 2/17/2011
Rachelle Pike for Consultant 2011
Brandon Timmons for Choreographer's Showcase, 42nd Street; Sweet Charity, Strike Up the Ban – Stoneham Theatre, BOCO
Garrett Broadwell Bell for Footloose at North Shore Music Theatre Emerging Artist for 2011
Liz Miller at 2nd Company of Peterborough Players 18 August 2011
Taylor Shubert for Choreographer’s Showcase at BOCO 2011
Matthew Poppe for Next Generation at Boston Ballet 8/18/2011
Samuel Bagala for Xanadu at Maine State Music Theatre 8/18/2011
Pim Van Amerongen for 42nd Street at Stoneham Theatre 8/18/2011
Gregory Isaac Stone for Musical Hair at New Bedford Theatre 8/18/2011
Alex Ringler for ICONS 2011 at Post Office Café and Cabaret, Provincetown
Andrew Trego April 1, 2011 and July 7, 2011 at Dance BOCO
Gerald Watson at Dance BOCO April 1, 2011
Paul Lang for Twelfth Night at BOCO on February 17, 2011
Bradley Gibson for Choreographer’s Showcase at BOCO 12/3/2011
Arnie Rodriguez for Choreographer’s Showcase at BOCO 12/3/2011
Sean Jones for Choreographer’s Showcase at BOCO 12/3/2011
Corey Mosello for Choreographer’s Showcase at BOCO 12/3/2011
Michael Figueroa for Fast Forward November 5, 2011 at BOCO
David Glista for Fast Forward, 11/5/11 at BOCO
Keith White for Balcony at BOCO 11/20/2011
Nicole Sawyer for Balcony at BOCO 11/20/2011
Michael Tacconi for Curtains at BOCO October 22, 2011
Ashley Lanyon for Curtains at BOCO October 22, 2011
Lori Tishfield for Ain’t Misbehaving 12/17/2011 at Lyric Stage Company of Boston
Casey Jordan for Doctor Knock, cabaret evenings at Peterborough Players
Dylan Marks, grant for playwriting
Kenneth Miller, named Consultant at BOCO theater
Rachel O’Malley, award for Mikado at BOCO, 2011
Christina Ferris, grant for Dramaturgy student ART
2012
Michael Taylor for Princess Ida March 31, 2012 at the Harvard-Radcliffe Gilbert & Sullivan Players
Duncan Lyle 2012 Outstanding Performer of the Year for 2012 for Fancy Free with the Boston Ballet.
Jeffrey Ewing Emerging Artist of the Year for Triple Play
Emily Goldberg for A Little Night Music 2012
Tyler Lenhart for A Little Night Music Emerging Artist of the Year for 2012
Shayne Kennon for A Little Night Music 2012 Emerging Artist of the Year
Andrew Winans for Miscast, Emerging Artist of the Year
John Hoobyar for Bates Theatre
Erin Hannon for Don Giovanni April 1, 2012
Cameron Benda for Gershwin Spectacular 5/15/12
Stephanie Miller for Gershwin Spectacular 5/15/12
Anna DeLoi for Next Generation – Harpist at Boston Ballet 5/16/2012- awarded in July 2012
Keenan English for Next Generation at Boston Ballet 5/16/2012- awarded in July 2012
Lauren Herfindahl for Next Generation at Boston Ballet 5/16/2012- awarded in July 2012
Dong Jin Lee for Next Generation at Boston Ballet 5/16/2012- awarded in July 2012
Pim van Amerongen for 42nd Street 7/9/12
Bryan Hunt for A Chorus Line 7/17/12
Gus Curry for Carnival 7/17/12
Jonathan Hess for Don Pasquale- Timpanist at Boston Midsummer Opera on 7/27/12- award given on 7/28
Sam Ou for Don Pasquale- Cellist at Boston Midsummer Opera on 7/27/12- award given on 7/28
Emily Hooper for Admirable Crichton- “Tweenie”, on 8/3/12 at The Peterborough Players
Jordan Ahnquist for Big River (Huck Finn) on 7/14/12 at the Barnstormers Theatre
Kenneth Miller for Roller Disco: The Musical – Rodney Sinclair/Clownie McGee on 8/2/12 at OBERON
Erik Joshua Clack for Singin’ in the Rain (Don Lockwood) on 7/31/12 at Interlakes Summer Theatre
Riley Brack for Jesus Christ Superstar (Caiaphas) 10/22/12 at Boston Conservatory
Jordan Fantauzzo for Jesus Christ Superstar (Judas) 10/22/12 at Boston Conservatory
Johnny Coulanges for Hoop Suite (Anna Myer and Dancers) 10/23/12 at ICA
Connor Baty for Zombie Prom 10/31/12 at Boston Conservatory- didn’t respond
Melody Stolpp for Elegies 11/11/12 at Boston Conservatory
Daniel Walton for Elegies 11/11/12 at Boston Conservatory
Stefani Wood for Elegies 11/11/12 at Boston Conservatory
Jacqueline Harding for The Way of the World (Lady Wishfort) 12/11/12 at Boston Conservatory
Matthew Roddin, A Miscast Cabaret
Keith Potts, NEVERWHERE
Erica Spyres
Phil Tayler
2013
Brianna LoBue for Nine Wives 1/18/13 at Goodspeed Musicals, Also 2013 Emerging Artist Award
Mike Baskowski for Come From Away 1/19/13 at Goodspeed Musicals, Also 2013 Emerging Artist Award
Dan Rosales for Come From Away 1/19/13 at Goodspeed, Also 2013 Emerging Artist Award
Erin Kommor for Come From Away 1/19/13 at Goodspeed, Also 2013 Emerging Artist Award
Brian Wible for Mercy Hospital 2/15/13 at Boston Conservatory
Sherman Wood for Winter Dance 2/24/13 at Boston Conservatory
Curtis Thomas for Winter Dance 2/24/13 at Boston Conservatory
MacKenzie Rawls for Winter Dance 2/24/13 at Boston Conservatory
Cameron Allen for Winter Dance 2/24/13 at Boston Conservatory
Austin Wyne for Winter Dance 2/24/13 at Boston Conservatory
Spencer Glass for Seussical 3/2/13 at Boston Conservatory
Timothy Rinaldi for Seussical 3/2/1 at Boston Conservatory
Ben Moss for There’s Something About Maui 4/2/13 at Hasty Pudding Theatricals
Natalie Dewey for La boheme 4/19/13 at Boston Conservatory
Magdaline Small for La boheme 4/19/13 at Boston Conservatory
Daniel Plimpton for A Man of No Importance 4/19/13 Boston Conservatory
William Macke for The Drowsy Chaperone 4/24/13 at The Hartt School
Dakota Dutcher for Big River 4/24/13 at The Hartt School
Ryan Barry for MRT's production of Red - Outstanding Performer of the Year award
Coree Mckee- Emerging Artist Award May 12, 2013
Phil Gillen in Punk Rock at the Zeitgeist 5/25/2013
John Ambrosino Outstanding Performer of the Year for 2013 for Lyric Stage’s production of On the Town.
Steven Jaehnert 6/22/2013 Emerging Artist of the Year for 2013 for Trinity Repertory Company's production of House & Garden.
Catherine Dupont 6/22/2013 Emerging Artist of the Year for 2013 for Trinity Repertory Company's production of House & Garden.
Jared Dixon for Emerging Artist of the Year for 2013 for SpeakEasy Stage Company's production of In the Heights 6/28/13
Jordan Ford Gloucester Stage's Spring Awakening Emerging Artist of the Year for 2013 (July 5, 2013)
Chris Renalds Gloucester Stage's Spring Awakening Emerging Artist of the Year for 2013 (July 5, 2013)
Eric Sirakian for Shakespeare & Company's Love's Labor's Lost. 7/6/13
Kyle Cherry WISE Foundation as Best Actor of the Year for 2013 for Normal Heart at the Zeitgeist Stage Company.
Lauren Kidwell Dec 2, 2013 for Light in the Piazza Performance
Christopher Kelly, Measure for Measure at Peterborough Players, 2013
2014
Alex Garde Emerging Artist of the Year Award in 2014
2015
Cameron Herbst given award on 4/14/15
Paul Hafley at NEC performance on 2/10/15
Andy Garcia on 6/26/15
Elisa Sunshine given award on 6/13/15
Elijah Dillehay given on 3/3/15
Styles Alexander given award 3/3/15
Chase Maxwell 3/3/15
Bryan Miner 2/1/15
Bi-Le Zhang, and David Yi for 2/22/15
2016
Jonah Ellsworth at BPYO performance on 5/816
Sean Rodan given award at Boston Ballet’s Swan Lake on 5/26/16
Sarah Mitchell at the Merry Widow performance on 4/30/16
Iason Togias given award on 3/9/16
Giancarlo Caccamo at Don Juan performance on 5/31/16
Reuben Stern at Swan Lake on 5/25/16
Bransen Gates 8/11/16
Sarah Polinski 8/11/16
Daniel Terry 8/11/16
Daniel Moore 8/11/16
Anna Chensky 8/11/16
Eleanor Pearson 8/11/16
Bobby Mittelstadt 8/11/16
Ben Dutton 8/11/16
WISE Awards
The most recent development in our foundation's activity has been the awards and small grants program for outstanding students and early career individuals in New England. Especially as music and performing arts students graduate with increasing amounts of college debt, this program seeks to recognize, reward, honor and celebrate these performers and the conservatories or companies in which they perform. Selection of award recipients utilizes a process of peer review in keeping with our foundation's tradition of student participation in the governance of WISE.
Awards are granted in two categories: emerging artist awards, for those still in formal training, and outstanding artist awards, for those more advanced in their careers. Traditionally, we invite award recipients to performances, where they receive their prize in person by a member of our organization. As we believe our awards should always be delivered with an element of surprise, no application for awards is accepted or necessary.
WISE Description of Student Exchange Programs
Medical Fellowship
The WISE Foundation invites selected students of medicine to visit the USA for four months (sometimes reduced to three according to the student's needs) during which time they become associated with professors in various fields of medicine and work with the professors in research projects,, attend research and clinical conferences, and in some cases follow the professor in clinical activities as well. The WISE Foundation provides housing and a two hundred dollar stipend, but the student arranges with our guidance funding from other sources for airfare and additional funding for expenses. Our experience has been that such additional sources of funding can generally be found once the student has received the formal award of the fellowship and invitation to participate in the WISE program. With regard to funding, an exception exists in the case of students wishing to spend one half of their time pursuing clinical experience in psychiatry. Such students receive funding adequate to cover all expenses of their stay, though they do generally need to provide for themselves the air fare needed for their visit.
Music Fellowship
The WISE Foundation invites students of music to visit the USA for four months (sometimes reduced to three according to the needs of the student) during which time the student visits music conservatories and concerts and other performances in Boston and elsewhere, studies an instrument with lessons from world class teachers, attends classes (if needed or desired) in English, and has an immersion experience in the cultural life of Massachusetts and the region (extending from Maine to New York City). The student lives in a house with other students and staff very close to public transportation. Students are eligible to audition for the program while they are enrolled in music education at the secondary school and generally come to the USA as soon as possible after graduation from secondary school arriving a month suitable both the the student and the Foundation but generally not primarily in the summer (most outstanding teachers here take lengthy summer vacations). All expenses are paid for students selected for the fellowship.