Douglas Anderson School of the Arts Graduate Austin Fields Honored with National Theatre Scholarship
Austin Fields performs in Hadestown.
Fields is one of 11 students nationwide to earn the Bernie G. Yvon Memorial Fund Scholarship offered through The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida
Oct. 8, 2026 — Jacksonville, Fla. — The Developing Artists Foundation and Douglas Anderson School of the Arts (DA) are proud to celebrate 2026 graduate Austin Fields as a recipient of the Bernie G. Yvon Memorial Fund Scholarship, a competitive scholarship offered through The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida. Fields is one of only 11 students nationwide to receive the theatre honor.
The parents of Bernie G. Yvon, a beloved Chicago-area actor who passed away in 2014, established the fund in 2015 to honor their son. Now in its 10th year, the fund has supported more than 50 students with scholarships. Applications are open to high school seniors and college students nationwide. The review committee considers each student’s demonstrated commitment to academics, performing arts potential and past experiences and financial need.
“We’ve been working with the Yvon family to support students across the country for a decade, and we are pleased to see a student in Duval County Public Schools win this prestigious scholarship,” said John Zell, Senior Vice President of Development at The Community Foundation. “Bernie’s legacy lives on through students like Austin, and we’re proud to play a part through the power of endowed philanthropy, made possible by the generosity of his friends and family.”
Fields graduated from DA in May 2026, having performed in major school productions such as “Hadestown” (ensemble) and “On the Town” (dance captain), as well as the role of Baby John in a production of “West Side Story” at the Dr. Phillips Center in Orlando. He served as senior class treasurer and vice president of student tutoring for the National Honor Society at DA. Fields plans to continue his education at the University of Florida, where he is pursuing a double major in theatre and business management.
"If you were fortunate to see Austin Fields in a performance, you know he was a formidable presence on our stage,” said Theatre Department Chair Joe Kemper. “But it’s everything he does beyond the spotlight that makes him indispensable. From expertly house-managing productions and coordinating our usher program to serving as treasurer of the senior class, he led our department with humility, dedication and heart. He is so deserving of this honor, and we're thrilled for him."
Bernie G. Yvon
The scholarship’s namesake, Bernie G. Yvon, was raised in Old Town, Maine. After graduating from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, he quickly became a fixture in Chicago-area live theatre. For three decades, he was the consummate song-and-dance man, performing in such classics as “Cabaret,” “Mary Poppins,” “The Music Man” and “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” The majority of his career was in Chicago, but he also played the role of Harry Houdini in the national tour of “Ragtime” and worked on Broadway as well as the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
Future recipients can explore the scholarship application at BernieYvon.com.
