Campus News

And The Award Goes To: Debra "Zig" Ziegler '76 makes an estate gift to Juniata College

(Posted March 16, 2026)

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Ziegler in editing room in Oller Hall, January 1976

Ziegler in editing room in Oller Hall, January 1976

HUNTINGDON, Pa. — Many dream of making it big in Hollywood, but few get to live that dream. For Juniata College alumna Debra “Zig” Ziegler ’76, the path to the red carpet at the Oscars began at Juniata. Ziegler has arranged for half of her estate to go to the College to help support students interested in communication and theater arts. When asked about her generous gift, she said, “The trajectory of my life started then, and I want other people to have the same experience.”

Ziegler’s obsession with moviemaking started with Bonnie and Clyde, nominated for 10 Academy Awards in 1968. The film sparked two passions, including a crush on the actor Warren Beatty. More importantly, it introduced Ziegler to the crucial role of editing in film production, the careful splicing of shots and scenes to create a movie’s final cut. Dede Allen, a celebrated film editor known for her work on groundbreaking movies, was Ziegler's role model and Bruce Davis ’65, Trustee Emeritus, who was then Chair of the Speech and Theatre department, became a significant mentor. Ziegler remembers him as a great professor: “he loved what he was doing and made other people love it, too.”

Within Juniata’s innovative curriculum, Ziegler crafted a Program of Emphasis in “Analytical and Visual Perception Through Film.” She made several short movies during her time at the College, including one on Charlie Chaplin in which Phil Klippert ’76 played Chaplin and Nancy Preston ’76 the damsel in distress. Assigned to create an homage to a famous director, Ziegler chose Hitchcock and made a short murder movie in the parking lot of a local strip mall. “The police actually showed up!” she remembered, laughing.

But it was a documentary about a dance marathon during her senior year that Ziegler most vividly remembers. She shot 12 rolls of film that had to be edited into the final cut, which she did in a little editing room set-up on the second floor of Oller Hall. Taking inspiration from a popular song by the band Orleans, she titled the documentary Dance with Me. The movie premiere took place in Ellis Hall, with the leading man Mark “Smitty” Smith ’77 in attendance. Kids from Huntingdon who had participated in the marathon marveled at seeing themselves on screen. Ziegler’s friends in choir showed up wearing their tuxes and someone pretended to be a reporter, interviewing people at the premiere.

With encouragement and a strong letter of recommendation from Bruce Davis, Zig went to film school at the University of Southern California (USC). She then landed a job working as an assistant editor on That’s Incredible, a popular television show at the time. Her mentor once again helped boost her career when he called and asked if she wanted to work with him at The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, where he was now an executive administrator. Ziegler said “yes!” and spent the next thirty-five years there, producing film clips for public programs. Her favorite part of the job was helping put together tributes to people who had passed away, including Gary Cooper, Betty Davis, and Barbara Stanwyck. Over her long career, Ziegler met many stars, including Warren Beatty, and even had an opportunity to work with her role model Dede Allen. Ziegler herself has walked the red carpet at the Oscars many times, during the years when Academy staff went to the annual awards.

Movie-lovers hold their breath when they hear the words, “And the winner is…” At Juniata College, the winners are the students, recipients of life-changing opportunities for learning and growth. Through the generosity of alumni such as “Zig” Ziegler, many more will be able to pursue their own Hollywood-type dreams.

To learn how you can create a planned gift through your estate to support Juniata, please contact Mat Stoudnour, associate vice president for advancement, at stoudnm@juniata.edu or by phone at (814) 641-3191.

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.