A Troy University alumnus and teacher has been selected to receive a national award for his outstanding musical contributions.

Tommy Newman, Troy University musical theater director and co-creator of “Band Geeks” the musical, has been honored with the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers Foundation’s Cole Porter Award.

The award is presented annually to an ASCAP or unaffiliated member who writes music and lyrics, whose work shows promise, and who has participated in an ASCAP Foundation Musical Theater Workshop.

“I am very grateful to Michael Kerker (ASCAP vice president) and the ASCAP Foundation for so generously presenting me with the Cole Porter Award,” Newman said. “Cole Porter was a giant in the industry, and I am truly honored to be considered for this prestigious award in his name.”

Noted composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz, whose four-decade career includes musical theater work including “Godspell,” “Pippin,” “The Baker’s Wife” and “Wicked,” will present the award to Newman during the 17th Annual ASCAP Foundation Awards at the Lincoln Center in December.

Newman is a 2003 Troy graduate and went on to earn his Master of Fine Arts in musical theatrical writing from New York University. While at NYU, Newman wrote two musicals as part of his thesis project. The first, “Tinyard Hill,” was produced at the Red Mountain Theatre in Birmingham and then nationally. The production of “29” was presented on Broadway in 2006. Both also were showcased in the National Alliance of Musical Theatre.