Kaskaskia College Professor Wins Best Actor Award at English Film Festival

Nathan Young Encourages Students in Rural Communities to Follow Dreams

Centralia, IL - Kaskaskia College Assistant Professor of Theatre & Communication Nathan Young recently won the Best Actor Award at the Bedford Independent Film Festival in Bedford, England. Young received the honor for his role as the titular character in Jonah, a thought-provoking comedy short film shot in the United Kingdom.

Young spoke with his students at KC about the award, and told them it doesn't matter if they're from a smaller, rural area where opportunities in theatre are slimmer. He encouraged them to keep pursuing their dreams, just as he had.

"I hope by bringing this award back to Kaskaskia College and sharing it with my students that they'll keep striving toward their goals," Young said. "I'm from a very small town in Maine, and I'm aware of what it's like to be from an area where there's not necessarily a lot of resources for the performing arts. I think this award shows students in a rural community that they can still pursue a career in theatre or acting.

Young started as a professor at KC in the summer of 2024 after moving back to the United States from the United Kingdom with his wife. Jonah was shot in 2022 and 2023, and Young said he was shocked to receive a text from his producer stating that he had won the award for Best Actor, but was unable to attend the film festival himself. Young added that the award is just another way to demonstrate that Kaskaskia College strives to hire faculty who are passionate and involved in the subjects they teach.

"I think community colleges are going to continue to keep growing and become a vital part in the lives of people throughout the country," Young said. "Kaskaskia College is constantly growing its connection with our district, and we are hiring people who are truly engaged in the industries they teach about. This award helps illustrate my validity to my students and myself, and there are so many faculty members at KC who offer that same level of professional expertise in their respective fields. KC is hiring the right people at the right time to produce the best outcomes for their students."

Moving forward, Young will continue to teach at Kaskaskia College and work on different acting projects, like Vagabond Shakespeare, where he co-directed an audio drama of A Midsummer Nights Dream.