UNC Asheville students took a number of top awards at the national Theatre Technology Olympics held last week in New Orleans. The UNCA student chapter is the oldest in the United States and consistently wins top honors at this annual competition.

For the third consecutive year, Danny Tauber was named Top Techie and Jenny Bowen took first place in knots. Other individual awards went to Jenny Bowen, third place crosby and thimble; Mike Henning, third place props; Jenny Prather, third place knot tying; Danny Tauber, second place wiring and third place costume change; and Dennis Woods, second place light hang and focus. In team competitions, UNCA landed second place.

The Tech Olympics is part of a national convention of the U.S. Institute of Theatre Technology (U.S.I.T.T.), attended by more than 3,000 students, faculty and other theater professionals. Competitions tests the speed and accuracy of backstage skills -- light hanging, properties shift, quick costume change, cut/saw/nail, and crosby and thimble, where competitors rig cable to hold scenery or people.

For more information about the chapter and its activities, call the chapter advisor, Robert Bowen, UNCA associate drama professor, at 828/251-6611.