Kevin Schultz (a 2003 CRAS Graduate), was Credited with Working on Three Oscar-Winning Films; Jennifer Fagre (a 2010 CRAS Graduate), was Credited with Working on Two Oscar-Winning Films; Nine Other Grads Participated on Multiple Oscar-Winning and Nominated Films
Gilbert, Ariz., March 23, 2026 – The Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences (CRAS; www.cras.edu), a leading institution for audio engineering education, is proud to announce that 11 of its graduates have earned credits for multiple Oscar-winning and Oscar-nominated film categories during the 98th Academy Awards ceremony, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), which took place on March 15, 2026 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Calif.
Kevin Schultz, foley mixer and a 2003 CRAS graduate, was credited with working on three Oscar-winning films (One Battle After Another, Marty Supreme, and Frankenstein), while Jennifer Fagre, music prep and a 2010 CRAS graduate, was credited with working on two Oscar-winning films (Sinners and Elio). Evyn Deboer (2022), Blake Collins (2007), Nolan Bacardi (2022), Darrell Thorp (1997), Mike Pipgras (2006), Ray Plaza (2012), Hector Cortez (2022), Fahad Rahman (2014), and Peter Nelson (2012) were also credited with working on Oscar-winning and Oscar-nominated films.
“Working on a project like ‘Come See Me in the Good Light’ is always enjoyable,” said Cortez. “I get to work with a team I consider family. Blake Neely, the ‘COWS’ Family, and Ryan White are good people and it’s always a joy to work with good people. My education at CRAS provided me the foundation I needed to start off in the industry and I build atop that foundation every day as I continue to learn and grow in the field. I could name at least five things off the top of my head that I did on the job today that involved something I was introduced to at the Conservatory.”
Said Kirt Hamm, CRAS administrator, “Just like last year’s results and for many more years before that, we couldn’t be more proud of our graduates. For the Oscars, the GRAMMY’s, the Primetime and Daytime Emmy’s, and more, our graduates are proving yet again how their hard work and determination in their chosen fields are gaining much deserved worldwide recognition. This inspires our current students that dedication to their craft pays off, and that motivates them even more.”
The Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences is composed of two nearby campuses in Gilbert and Tempe, Ariz. A CRAS education includes broadcast audio, live sound, film and TV audio, music, and video game audio, all taught by award-winning instructors who have all excelled in their individual fields, including sound reinforcement, audio recording and production, digital recording, troubleshooting/maintenance, and music business.
CRAS structured programs and highly qualified teaching staff provide a professional and supportive atmosphere, which is complemented by its small class sizes allowing for individual instruction and assistance for students in engineering audio recordings. CRAS has been providing quality vocational training in audio recording for more than three decades. The curriculum and equipment are constantly being updated to keep pace with the rapid advancements in the music and sound recording industries. CRAS’ course offerings and subject matter have always centered around the skills and knowledge necessary for students’ success in the audio recording industries.
The 11-month program is designed to allow every student access to learn and train in all of the Conservatory’s studios which are comprised with state-of-the-art audio recording and mixing gear, the same equipment used in today’s finest studios and remote broadcast facilities, including Pro Tools 12, API Legacy consoles, SSL AWS consoles, Studer Vista consoles, and much more. All students must complete a 280-hour industry internship to graduate from the Master Recording Program II that may ultimately lead to industry employment.
For more information on the Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences, please visit www.cras.edu, contact Kirt Hamm, administrator, at 1-800-562-6383, or email to [email protected].
About The Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences
Based in the heart of The Valley of the Sun with two campuses in Gilbert and Tempe, Ariz., The Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences (CRAS) is one of the country’s premier institutions for audio education. The Conservatory has developed a unique and highly effective way to help the future audio professional launch their careers in the recording industry and other related professional audio categories.
