Fourth-year University of Regina theatre student Kaitlyn Semple has received a Hnatyshyn Foundation Developing Artist Grant for English theatre acting. The announcement was made on July 15 by the foundation's president and chair of the board Gerda Hnatyshyn, the widow of  former Governor General Ramon Hnatyshyn who established the foundation in 2005.

The 21-year-old acting major graduated from Campbell Collegiate in Regina and is the daughter of well-know Saskatchewan musician Jack Semple.

"In my 30 years as a professional director and 20 years teaching at university Kaitlyn Semple is the most passionate, disciplined, dedicated and gifted young actor I ever had the pleasure of working with," said theatre faculty member Gerald Lenton-Young. "There is no question in my mind that she will have a distinguished career on the stage."

The nominees for the grants were identified as having exceptional promise by educational and training institutions across Canada and were then adjudicated by expert juries from the arts community. Jury members Perry Schneiderman, Lois Brown and Michael Shamata found Semple to be a performer with emotional depth, an excellent sense of text and great stage presence.

Semple recieves a $10,000 grant to continue her studies in the fall.