This year鈥檚 theme, Creativity Unbound, beautifully captured the daring, exploratory energy of this extraordinary cohort. Recognizing 16 Scholars, it was the largest group in the event鈥檚 history. Each student was selected for their exceptional creative achievement, commitment to community, and visionary leadership.

鈥淭ogether, and with the support of the College鈥檚 faculty, staff, trustees, friends, families, and supporters, this cohort stands as proof of what鈥檚 possible when imagination meets ambition, and creativity is unbound,鈥� 四虎影视 President Dr. Larry R. Thompson shared in his speech.

Each year, the Trustee Scholars choose a collective theme that reflects their shared identity. For 2025鈥�26, Creativity Unbound pays tribute to the courage it takes to break molds, transcend expectations, and forge new creative paths.

For many Scholars, that courage is deeply personal.

Film Trustee Scholar Jayde Dauley shared a powerful reflection on owning her voice鈥攐ne shaped by the resilience passed down through her family:

鈥淔rom a young age, I knew I wanted to be a creative. A writer and director of something. But I didn鈥檛 exactly have the confidence to do so. At home, I was the next Spike Lee, but outside, I was barely anything. To most, I was an uptight black girl who was too intimidating. I always got cast as the maid in the school play and was never picked to have my stories read because they made others feel incompetent. That completely ruined me. I put myself into a corner and stayed there for years, quietly letting opportunities pass me by because I didn鈥檛 want to be what everyone thought I was.

Then my mother reminded me of the advice my grandfather gave her: 鈥楨ff 鈥檈m.鈥�
From that moment on, I decided every step I took would be heard by someone. I didn鈥檛 care if people thought I was uptight or loud. I am uptight and loud鈥攕o what? What mattered was going beyond the limits placed on me as a child and achieving the dreams my younger self never thought I鈥檇 reach.鈥�

Virtual Reality Development Trustee Scholar Nick Whittle moved the audience with an emotional tribute to his late grandfather and to the moments that shape a creative life:

鈥淎s I near graduation, I keep asking myself: What moments define us? For me, it was the last hug I ever gave my grandpa. With tears in his eyes, he told me his biggest regret was that he鈥檇 never get to see me graduate. This is the man who, at every chance he got, would drive hours with my grandma just to see me. To see the crayon cards I made for him. To see the light in my eyes when I showed him something. That moment defined my love for art as a kid.

Whatever your version of those crayon drawings is, hold on to it. Tell the people in your life what they mean to you. And don鈥檛 be afraid to tell the world how much your work matters. These memories, these people, this school鈥攖his is what has defined me. There鈥檚 not a second I don鈥檛 feel grateful.鈥�

The Trustee Scholarship is awarded annually to senior students who exemplify the highest levels of dedication, originality, brilliance, ambition, and service. Faculty from each academic department, along with representatives from Student Life, nominate students from the junior class. Nominees submit a written statement and a portfolio, which are reviewed by the Trustee Scholar Selection Committee, composed of members of the Board of Trustees.

Scholars are selected based on:

• Exceptional creative talent, communication skills, and distinction of mind
• Contributions to their department, the College, and/or the community
• Leadership, citizenship, and mentorship

This year鈥檚 Scholars demonstrated excellence across all criteria鈥攅ach bringing a powerful combination of talent, vision, and heart to the Ringling community.

See all the 2025-2026 Trustee Scholars on our website. 

The nomination process for the 2026鈥�27 Trustee Scholars will begin this spring, with selections announced in May. As the College prepares for another year of inspiring artistic achievement, the stories shared during this year鈥檚 ceremony stand as a testament to the transformative impact of a 四虎影视 education.

Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest 四虎影视 news in your inbox. 

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A film student and a father living with Alzheimer鈥檚 are at the center of Matthew Peterson鈥檚聽Swan Song, winner of 四虎影视 of Art and Design鈥檚 inaugural 四虎影视 Film Carl Foreman Award. The award, to be given annually, recognizes a graduating senior majoring in听贵颈濒尘听辞谤聽Creative Writing聽for outstanding achievement in screenwriting, directing, or producing. The student winner receives a monetary award of $5,000 as well as a Will Kane bronze statuette, inspired by the lead character in Foreman鈥檚 1952 western聽High Noon. The Will Kane statuette was created by sculptor, illustrator, 四虎影视 faculty member, and alumnus.

鈥淗aving 四虎影视 of Art and Design chosen as the new home of the Carl Foreman Award, out of all of the other film schools in the country, is a testament to the exceptional talent of our students, the dedication of our instructors and their collaborative vision towards creative excellence,鈥� said Dr. Larry R. Thompson, president of 四虎影视 of Art and Design. 鈥淲e thank Eve and Michael Williams-Jones for their generosity in bringing this prestigious award to the College and extend our congratulations to Matthew Peterson for taking home the inaugural prize.鈥�

Foreman鈥檚 widow, Evelyn 鈥淓ve鈥� Williams-Jones, originally created the Carl Foreman Award in 1983 in memory of her late husband, a prolific screenwriter, director, and producer who was blacklisted by Hollywood and forced to leave the United States in 1951. Winners of the original award, created in conjunction with the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), include Joe Wright, Amma Asante, Belinda Bauer, Asif Kapadia, and Steve McQueen.

When Eve and her husband Michael Williams-Jones decided to bring the Carl Foreman Award back to the United States, Foreman鈥檚 beloved homeland, they considered several film schools to continue a legacy of recognizing outstanding student work in the film industry before bringing it to Sarasota, a place they recognize as culturally vibrant and stunning.

鈥淚nitially we considered the fabulous film schools of Los Angeles, a natural choice,鈥� said Michael Williams-Jones. 鈥淏ut as great and as legendary as they are, none of them felt quite right because Hollywood had once turned its back on Carl. Then, we met the truly remarkable and inspirational Dr. Larry R. Thompson and discovered 四虎影视 with its world-class film program, and it dawned on us 鈥� why not give the award its new home right in our own backyard?鈥�

Swan Song, written and directed by Peterson, was selected from among 30 entries by a panel of seven jurors, including Patrick Alexander, 四虎影视 Film interim department head; Brad Battersby, 四虎影视 Film faculty; CJ Callins, 四虎影视 trustee and Film alumnus; Sheryl Haler, 四虎影视 Film faculty; Jonathan King, producer of聽Spotlight,听Roma听补苍诲听Dreamgirls; Sylvia Whitman, 四虎影视 Creative Writing faculty; and Michael Williams-Jones, voting member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and BAFTA.

鈥�Swan Song聽is an immensely entertaining film that captivates the audience not through escapism, but by holding a mirror to the most fundamental complexities of the human experience,鈥� said Alexander. 鈥淩ather than opt for a neatly packaged conclusion, the story culminates in a poignant, gut-wrenching climax that resonates long after the credits roll. The Carl Foreman Award was designed to recognize filmmakers like Peterson, capable of entertaining audiences while still provoking thought, introspection, and discourse around substantive issues.鈥�

Peterson鈥檚 senior year at 四虎影视 was an ambitious one. He worked as a screenwriter, director, producer, editor, and digital image technician (DIT) on nearly a dozen films. Now that he鈥檚 graduated, Peterson will continue his filmmaking journey in Sarasota as an intern for videography company Storyvox before relocating to Los Angeles, where he plans to work in post-production and story development and eventually start a production company producing narrative and documentary content.

Eve Williams-Jones presented Peterson with the inaugural 四虎影视 Film Carl Foreman Award when more than 900 四虎影视 students, faculty, patrons, and friends gathered at Sarasota鈥檚 historic Opera House for a special screening of the film program鈥檚 senior thesis projects, which included 12 senior films. The films are not yet made available to the public, so that students can apply to the festival circuit.

聽In recognition of the close contest between the top two Carl Foreman award finalists, Film senior Wilderley Mauricette received Special Recognition for Outstanding Achievement in Directing and Screenwriting for聽Curtain Call. That film tells the story of a young Black man torn between two powerful mentors as he must navigate between the criminal environment he was born into and his true passion for the arts.

Wilderley Mauricette 鈥�24, Film, and Interim Film Department Head Patrick Alexander after Patrick announced his Special Recognition for Outstanding Achievement in Directing and Screenwriting.听

鈥淗aving gone through the first selection process now, I like to think of the Carl Foreman Award as the North Star of our Film program,鈥� said Alexander. 鈥淐arl Foreman鈥檚 movies provoke audiences to think, make us laugh, move us to tears, dare us to hope, but above all, they entertain us. As film educators, that鈥檚 exactly our guiding principle at 四虎影视 of Art and Design.鈥�

鈥淓ve and I were both deeply moved and impressed by the exceptionally high standard of this year鈥檚 Ringling Film senior productions,鈥� said Michael Williams-Jones. 鈥淚t is always thrilling to see such talent and imagination on the big screen, and it reaffirms our decision to grant 四虎影视 this award for at least the next 10 years. 四虎影视 has truly joined the top tier of the nation鈥檚 film schools.鈥�

About Carl Foreman

Carl Foreman was nominated for six Oscars over his career including for聽High Noon,听The Guns of Navarone听补苍诲听The Bridge on the River Kwai聽for which he won Best Screenplay. After being blacklisted and forced to leave the United States, Foreman went to the U.K. and was given the rare honor of becoming Head of the U.K. Writers Guild and was awarded an OBE by the late Queen Elizabeth II for his contribution to cinema. Foreman鈥檚聽High Noon聽screenplay was widely interpreted as an allegory for Hollywood鈥檚 infamous blacklist. The film鈥檚 backstory serves as a reminder of the power of art to reflect social and political issues, while also honoring its audiences by being genuinely entertaining. Learn more about the聽Award and its history.

About the 四虎影视 Film program

The聽四虎影视 Film program聽produces the next generation of great filmmakers and visual storytellers. Students are immersed in all aspects of the film industry including directing, screenwriting, producing, cinematography, production design, editing, and sound design鈥攁ll on the College鈥檚 two 8,400-square-foot soundstages and a 5,000-square-foot state-of-the-art post-production facility. Students can focus on narrative film or branded entertainment and crew on a minimum of 60 films during their four years in school. Students also have opportunities to work with industry leaders and connect with alumni who have gone on to work for Netflix, Disney, Comedy Central, MTV, NBC and ABC to name a few.

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During a private cocktail reception, 四虎影视鈥檚 top donors, supporters, and friends gathered on campus to celebrate the campaign鈥檚 success and learn more about what the future will hold at the preeminent art and design institution. 

The Catalyst for Creativity campaign has been underway since 2018 and includes three institutional priorities: supporting students and faculty, growing facilities, and expanding community programs. 四虎影视 has raised over $127 million in the silent phase of the campaign. Vice President for Advancement Sara Curtis Robinson will lead the campaign through to meeting its goal of $175 million. 

鈥淭his is an exciting time for 四虎影视 of Art and Design as we undertake a historic expansion campaign that touches every aspect of the College,鈥� said Robinson. 鈥淯nder the visionary leadership of Dr. Larry Thompson, 四虎影视 has become one of the premiere art and design colleges worldwide and a cornerstone of the Greater Sarasota community. From award-winning academic programs to community institutions like Sarasota Art Museum, TOWN HALL Lecture Series, and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, 四虎影视 is at the heart of our arts and culture landscape here in Sarasota. I am thrilled to be part of the talented team of faculty, staff, and volunteer leaders who have come together to implement the Catalyst for Creativity campaign to provide financial resources for the future of this remarkable institution.鈥�

Over the past 25 years with Dr. Larry R. Thompson serving as president, 四虎影视 has continued to grow and thrive. The campaign is aligned in both timing and ethos with a newly revised Strategic Plan, including updated Vision and Mission statements. The comprehensive campaign is structured around three main pillars, all sharing equal importance and weight: 

Building Creativity, Igniting Creativity, and Connecting Creativity. 

鈥淲e are at a pivotal moment in the history of 四虎影视 of Art and Design, where we must grow to accommodate the needs of our campus and community,鈥� explained Ali Bahaj, 四虎影视 Trustee and Chair of the Catalyst for Creativity Campaign Committee. 鈥淲ith the highest enrollment ever, now is the time to build a Signature Academic Center on the corner of North Tamiami Trail and MLK Way. This iconic building will meet the needs of our award-winning digital academic programs and provide a gateway to our campus and community. I am proud to support the Catalyst for Creativity campaign. This campaign will provide important resources for 四虎影视 to continue to enrich our community and support our students for years to come.鈥�

Building Creativity refers to the expansion and upkeep of state-of-the-art facilities and technology on campus. One building in particular, currently called the Signature Academic Building, will be located on the corner of N. Tamiami Trail and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way鈥攖he entrance to the campus. This new building will be uniquely positioned to welcome visitors along one of the most prominent highway stretches of Florida鈥檚 Gulf Coast, serving as an entry point to the College and standing as an iconic signifier of the cultural hub that is Sarasota. The Signature Academic Building plans to house a Campus Welcome Center; a dedicated gallery space for the art glass collection of Dr. Richard and Barbara Basch; event and multi-purpose spaces; and academic studios and labs for four of the College鈥檚 high-tech majors: Computer Animation, Entertainment Design, Game Art, and Virtual Reality Development. Plans for the building have been approved and construction is slated to begin in April 2024. 

Igniting Creativity is all about student and faculty support. Integral to 四虎影视鈥檚 mission is attracting diverse students and faculty members who possess an array of perspectives, experience, and talent that is essential to the vibrancy of 四虎影视. Strategic and sustained outreach and ongoing funding are required to support students through the entirety of their college years, as well as the faculty and their professional development. Key investment components include student scholarships, DEI programming and initiatives, endowed faculty positions, and a new Center for Teaching Excellence. 

The Connecting Creativity facet of the campaign is focused on engaging the local community. Sarasota has long been a place for culture and the arts to flourish, attracting some of the world鈥檚 most exciting international artists, thought leaders, and authors to share their work and perspectives. Through more than 100 programs offered annually, 四虎影视 provides opportunities for students, and for roughly 100,000 local residents and visitors from around the globe to gather, learn, and experience the power of creativity. 四虎影视鈥檚 organizations supported by this campaign include Sarasota Art Museum of 四虎影视 of Art and Design; 四虎影视鈥檚 Campus Galleries and Exhibitions; the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at 四虎影视; 四虎影视 Library Association’s TOWN HALL Lecture Series; and Englewood Art Center. 

鈥淚 believe we have something truly unique at 四虎影视,鈥� shared Dr. Thompson. 鈥淔or many years now we have had the privilege of being an institution that has helped to provide creative resources for this community and helped shape it into what it is today. As a corollary, it鈥檚 the people in this community who have, in turn, been instrumental in our sustained growth and success.鈥�

鈥溗幕⒂笆逾�檚 mission is to educate our students, our community, and the world to understand art and creativity as essential dimensions to life. I have always said that creativity should be tangible and produce real and actual results. Meeting this campaign goal will help us continue to spark creativity in our students, community, and beyond for decades to come.鈥�

We invite everyone in our community to be a Catalyst for Creativity. 

For more information about the Catalyst for Creativity campaign, please visit our .听

For information, please contact Vice President for Advancement Sara Curtis Robinson at srobins1@ringling.edu, email giving@ringling.edu, or call 941-359-7674.

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鈥淲e are thrilled to welcome Sara to 四虎影视鈥檚 creative community and believe her background and experiences as a leader, fundraiser, and lover of visual and performing arts will continue the excellence of our advancement program,鈥� said Dr. Larry R. Thompson, president of 四虎影视 of Art and Design. 鈥淗er leadership and skills will be essential as we move into the next phase of philanthropy to support 四虎影视鈥檚 many aspirations, including our vision of becoming the preeminent art and design college worldwide.鈥�

Robinson will be working across all areas of the 四虎影视 community, including the College鈥檚 senior officers, faculty, staff, Sarasota Art Museum of 四虎影视 of Art and Design, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at 四虎影视, and Englewood Art Center. 

鈥淚 look forward to joining the talented administrative team at 四虎影视 of Art and Design,鈥� said Robinson. 鈥淭his is an exciting time for Sarasota with great opportunity to grow our creative community. I am honored to support the mission and vision of this outstanding college that is leading the way in art and design education.鈥�

A Certified Fundraising Executive, Robinson鈥檚 career spans a number of prestigious organizations and a variety of fundraising roles in Massachusetts and Florida. Since 2019, she has resided in Sarasota, first taking on the role of Chief Advancement Officer at The Sarasota Ballet and then being recruited in 2022 to lead the private philanthropy campaign for The Van Wezel Foundation/Sarasota Performing Arts Center. 

Robinson has led numerous boards of directors, leadership teams, and advancement staff through the multi-year strategy of planning, executing and achieving comprehensive fundraising campaigns that serve to grow donor bases, expand fundraising support, and achieve organization goals. She has personally secured significant support to advance the missions of the organizations she has served. 

鈥淲e thank Sara for furthering the vision of a new Sarasota Performing Arts Center as a member of the team led by Mark Cole, chief advancement and marketing officer,鈥� said Jim Travers, board chair of The Van Wezel Foundation/Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation. 鈥淪ara鈥檚 appointment to 四虎影视 of Art and Design strengthens our shared mission of arts education, and we look forward to even greater collaboration with the nation鈥檚 preeminent college of art and design.鈥�

鈥淒uring this period of transition, my sincere thanks to 四虎影视 faculty and staff for participating in the search process and especially to our search committee members who worked diligently with our national search firm to find such outstanding candidates resulting in this excellent appointment,鈥� said Dr. Thompson. 鈥淚 especially want to thank Lora Wey who admirably served as Interim Vice President for Advancement since September 2022, as well as the entire Advancement team for their support during this time.鈥� 

Robinson holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in visual arts from Pine Manor College in Boston and certificates in Professional Fundraising and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace. Her career began and has been shaped in the visual and performing arts since her first position with the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, supporting the Asiatic Art Curator. Robinson and her husband, Benjamin Robinson, live in Lakewood Ranch and are the parents of three sons who live in Washington D.C., Brooklyn, and Los Angeles.

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Student Government Association President Celi Mitidieri 鈥�24, Film, was the recipient of the Avant-Garde Endowed Scholarship. Sandra Lee 鈥�24, Graphic Design, Wilderley 鈥淲ill鈥� Mauricette 鈥�24, Film, and Rose Nachman 鈥�24, Fine Arts, were scholarship finalists. These scholarships are awarded based on the students鈥� commitment to 四虎影视 and to the campus community service. 

The stars of the event were 四虎影视 President Dr. Larry R. Thompson and his wife, Pat Thompson 鈥�16, Fine Arts, who performed a number of Elton John songs dressed as a feathery Elton John and sparkly Elton Jane. 

Their costumes were designed by faculty member Matt Myers 鈥�82, Illustration, who conceptualized and created Elton Jane鈥檚 look, and collaborated with Entertainment Design students Capri Easterday 鈥�25 and Olivia Dumas 鈥�25 to transform Larry Thompson into Elton John. 

Myers has been an instructor at 四虎影视 since 2019, teaching Figure and Costume Visual Development. After graduating from 四虎影视 in 1982, he went on to work all over the country. He freelanced as an artist for 35 years, starting his career in New York City, where he created murals and paintings for hotels, nightclubs, and international cruise ships. That work led to a career in the theatre as a scenic artist, and eventually led to his work as a costume designer and fabricator for small theatres and opera companies. 

Working with smaller organizations, Myers was able to combine all of his skills, creating cohesive designs that coordinated graphic design and illustration with costume and set design. In 2007, he began working as costumer in the Theatre Department at Missouri Southern State University, teaching costume construction while continuing to freelance as a costume designer.

Since his return to 四虎影视 as a faculty member, Myers has also helped develop the Figure Reference Library, a project started during the pandemic that has since become a valuable resource for the school. With the onset of remote learning, faculty discovered a great need for remote figure model references that fit the unique needs of the students. Myers collaborated with other faculty and staff to create a 3,000 plus image and video library, complete with 360-degree rotating imagery. 

Myers has been involved with Avant-Garde in myriad ways since his return, costuming guests, and contributing to stage direction. This year, in addition to costuming the Thompsons, he helped stage their much-anticipated grand entrance, and contributed to directing their much-anticipated grand entrance. He feels particularly invested in Avant-Garde as a former beneficiary. In his senior year at 四虎影视, Myers was a recipient of a scholarship that helped him complete his degree, similar to the Crossing the Finish Line Scholarship, a one-time scholarship established in 2014 to help students who experience an unexpected financial hardship finish their Ringling education, and primarily funded by the Avant-Garde paddle raise. 

Myers continues his mural work, and recently painted a site-specific two-story mural for the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, celebrating the centennial anniversary for the county. He is currently dreaming up plans for multimedia wearable art projects.

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The company, a Sarasota law firm founded in 1925, has a long-standing relationship with 四虎影视 and is an active sponsor and friend of the institution.

鈥淚 am beyond excited to be the recipient of this honor, and endlessly grateful to 四虎影视 for all of the opportunities that the college consistently provides to students,鈥� said Chandler. 鈥淚 wanted my illustration to really embody the feeling of thankfulness, and I tend to associate that with feeling as if I can soar, or do anything and be anything because of the support of those around me. This inspired me to digitally illustrate various birds and tie in warm colors and florals.鈥�

According to Williams Parker, the firm received many worthy student submissions for the holiday card contest, which is now in its fifth year. Chandler, who is from Manchester, MI, received a cash award to assist with school-related expenses.

Chandler is heavily involved in campus and student life programs at 四虎影视. She is a student ambassador and tour guide for the Office of Admissions, a Street Team member, first-year figure drawing tutor, founder and president of the Ringling Readers book club, a PreCollege teaching assistant, and an active member of the Campus Activities Board. 

Chandler鈥檚 work is available on Instagram @skychandlerart.

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The event is free to attend; however is required.

鈥淚 am super excited about Warriors 鈥� this screening will be a singular moment in which to highlight the challenges faced by women of color in our area and the phenomenal work they are doing to be caretakers of our community,鈥� said Cross College Alliance Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Chair and Founder of Mosaic Movements Yoleidy Rosario-Hernandez. 

鈥淭hey are creating spaces for youth to be their authentic selves and engage in creative expression and gain accessibility to technology and areas for expression. Warriors is a project years in the making and we hope the series of films will help people to be better able to relate to each other, and witness and affirm all the work WOC are doing in the Sarasota-Manatee community.鈥� 

In 2021 四虎影视 received a grant from Community Foundation of Sarasota County to support the interview process, film and exhibition creation, the screening and panel discussion. The Dec. 2 screening will be accompanied with an exhibition of photographs taken by current 四虎影视 student Jesse Clarke 鈥�23, alumnus Curtis Anderson 鈥�12, and the Founder of Black Lemonade Productions Marquis Dawsey, as well as Rosario-Hernandez.

Warriors features interviews with 11 local community leader women of color, which is composed of four separate parts: a 35-minute film focusing on stories of nine Black women, and four five-minute shorts focusing on stories of two Latinx women. 

Featured women include Valerie Buchand, Jasmin Graham, Neirda Thompson-Pemberton, Dr. Lisa Merritt, Gale Fulton Ross, Dr. Rachel Shelley, Dr. Queen Zabriskie, Jasmin Graham, Vickie Oldham, Dr. Sarah Hernandez, Mara Torres, and Melanie Thomas, several of whom will be present at the opening.

For more information email Yoleidy Rosario-Hernandez. 

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This year鈥檚 winners will be recognized on Nov. 4 during the College鈥檚 annual Trustee Scholar Awards celebration. The event will begin with a reception, followed by a formal ceremony during which each Scholar will be introduced. Scholars will then have the opportunity to share remarks with the approximately 340 guests about how they are shaping their creative futures and defining their own success.听

The 2022-23 scholars are:

1. Ana Brighton, Film
2. Jesse Clark, Photography and Imaging
3. Lizi Budagashvili, Fine Arts*
4. Sam Grimm, Graphic Design
5. Ryan Wien, Virtual Reality Development
6. Shpresa Mehmeti, Business of Art and Design
7. Pao Chutijirawong, Fine Arts*
8. Mafer Bencomo Arevalo, Visual Studies
9. Bella Cicci, Entertainment Design
10. Ale Ortega-Romero, Illustration
11. Hailey Bair, Computer Animation
12. Jude Keifer, Creative Writing
13. Payton Odierno, Game Art
14. Yael Bloom, Motion Design
15. Calvin 鈥淐J鈥� Callins, Student Life

* Two students were selected from Fine Arts this year due to a tie vote. 

鈥淚鈥檓 exceptionally proud of this year鈥檚 Trustee Scholar who, in addition to being talented artists and designers, also work very hard in the classroom and have demonstrated exceptional leadership across campus and in the community,鈥� said Dr. Larry R. Thompson, president of 四虎影视. 

The Trustee Scholarship is awarded annually to one fourth  year student  who best exemplifies dedication, originality, brilliance, ambition, and talent in their field of study, as well as service to the College and to the community. 

Each year, the faculty in each academic department and representatives from the Office of Student Life nominate two students from the junior class in their areas for consideration as Trustee Scholars for the following year.

Nominees are required to submit a written statement and a portfolio of their work for the Trustee Scholar Selection Committee, composed of members of the Board of Trustees to review and make a selection. The winners are selected based on:

• Exceptional creative talent, communication skills, and distinction of mind
• Contributions to the department, College, and/or community
• Leadership, citizenship, mentorship

The nomination process for the 2023-24 Trustee Scholars will begin this spring and the winners will be selected by the Board of Trustees in May.

To learn more about Ringling鈥檚 award-winning students, alumni, and faculty, visit the online newsroom.

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