Lawrence Community Theatre patrons and volunteers recently gathered to celebrate the completion of the theater’s 27th season and present the sixth annual Charley Awards, including a lifetime achievement award and a scholarship.

The Charleys are named in honor of Charles Oldfather, a retired law professor who was a longtime theater performer and supporter; and Charles Lown, a retired theater designer who gave technical support to the theater.

The theater gave its first Lifetime Achievement Award to John Clifford, a playwright and screenwriter. Perhaps best known for his screenplay of the cult classic “Carnival of Souls,” Clifford has been active with the theater, which has produced five of his plays, including “Wabash Winning Streak,” “I Was Right Here a Moment Ago,” “Here’s to You, Grandma,” “Wild Bill” and “Jack Be Quick.”

Clifford also volunteers with the theater and has written several sketches used by the theater’s Vintage Players troupe.

Lauren Kimball-Brown received the Hector and Frances Evans/Lawrence Community Theatre College Scholarship. The $1,000 scholarship is awarded annually to one student who volunteers 100-plus hours during the season.

The award is given by Marti and Michael Butell in honor of Marti’s parents. Kimball-Brown volunteered 498 hours during the 2003-2004 season in the areas of costuming, children’s workshops and cleanup after the fire. Kimball-Brown will be attending the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, majoring in film/photography.

Volunteers logged more than 26,000 hours of service this season at the theater.

Mary Ann Saunders, Lawrence, was honored as the 2003-2004 Volunteer of the Year with 1,756 hours of service. Twenty-one volunteers received Charley shirts for 350-plus hours of service.

More than 60 volunteers also were honored for helping the theater recover from last winter’s fire.