Jim Henson Statue Dedicated, University of Maryland, MD

September 24, 2003 - A statue of Jim Henson and Kermit the Frog sitting on a bench, sculpted by Jay Hall Carpenter, was unveiled in front of the Adele H. Stamp Student Union at the University of Maryland. Jay Hall Carpenter was awarded the commission to design the sculpture after an extensive contest between noted sculptors, presided over by Jane Henson and Bonnie Erickson. The statue was a gift from the classes of 1994, 1998, and 1999, and the unveiling ceremony was emceed by Willard Scott and attended by the Henson family. Additionally, Campus Drive was renamed Sesame Street for the day, a VIP luncheon was held, and a Muppet movie festival was held at the university’s Hoff Theater on the two days preceding the unveiling. The occasion also served as the premiere of Jim Henson: Creator of Dreams, a documentary commissioned by Jane Henson and produced in association with the Paulist Press, detailing the creation of the Jim Henson Statue. The documentary was recognized with a Telly Award and, along with a tape of the AFI Silver seminar A Tribute to Jim Henson, has been screened multiple times on WMPB – Baltimore Public Television.