In 1990, Theatre 98 instituted an award to be given to students who had made contributions to the theatre over the course of several years. Some of them had acted in Theatre 98 productions, but all of them had helped with the less glamorous aspects of theatre, working on posters, lighting, sets, costumes or make-up, or working as stage-hands or ushers. Although in the first years of the Student Service Award it was given sporadically, since 2000 the award has been an annual one.