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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The post 四虎影视 celebrates 31st Annual Trustee Scholar Awards: Creativity Unbound appeared first on 四虎影视 of Art and Design.

Each Trustee Scholar exemplifies dedication, originality, brilliance, ambition, and talent in their field of study, as well as service to the College and the community. Faculty from 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. The Board of Trustees chooses one from each of those categories to be named Trustee Scholar. Two students were selected from Graphic Design this year due to a tie vote. 

The College鈥檚 annual Trustee Scholar Awards celebration will take place on Friday, November 8, 2024. 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 guests鈥攆amily, friends, or College faculty and staff鈥攁bout how they are helping to inspire the new future of art and design. 

Meet the 2024-25 Trustee Scholars

HAYLEY KIRK鈥擝usiness of Art and Design
SIERRA SONBERG鈥擟omputer Animation
JENNA OLSON鈥擟reative Writing
OLIVIA DUMAS鈥擡ntertainment Design
MICHAELA COWAN鈥擣ilm
VALERIA GUERRA-GARC脥A鈥擣ine Arts
SHREYA KADUKAR鈥擥ame Art
JAYDEN BADILLO鈥擥raphic Design
AVERY FROST鈥擥raphic Design
SKY CHANDLER鈥擨llustration
DIANE LEE鈥擬otion Design
MORGAN SCOTT鈥擯hotography and Imaging 
VANILOPE TANG鈥擵irtual Reality Development
NOSIPHO VILAKAZI鈥擵isual Studies
CAPRI EASTERDAY鈥擲tudent Life

The Trustee Scholarship is awarded annually 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 2025-26 Trustee Scholars will begin this spring and the winners will be selected in May. Learn more about the Trustee Scholar Award and see past Scholars and events. 

The post The 2024-25 Trustee Scholars: Dreaming in Technicolor appeared first on 四虎影视 of Art and Design.

The College鈥檚 annual Trustee Scholar Awards celebration will take place on Friday, Nov. 3, 2023. 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 guests鈥攆amily, friends, College faculty and staff鈥攁bout how they are helping to inspire the new future of art and design.聽

Each year, the Scholars choose a theme, one which defines them as a collective unit of leaders. This year鈥檚 concept was Luminaries: a source of light, obtaining brilliant achievement and inspiring others. Individually, these 15 scholar artists and designers are uniquely talented, dedicated, and innovative. Together, and with the support of the College鈥檚 faculty, staff, trustees, friends, families, and supporters, these distinguished students are driven to pursue excellence and to be the spark that ignites a bright and shining future.

Meet this year鈥檚 Trustee Scholars, the Luminaries.

Ellie Massing, Business of Art and Design
Elena Serenko, Computer Animation
Logan Faulkner, Creative Writing
Shellsea Coe, Entertainment Design
Milena Montero, Film
Christina Antoniou, Fine Arts
Laela Russell, Game Art
Sandra Lee, Graphic Design
Tako Pharsenadze, Graphic Design
Micah Eubanks, Illustration
Hannah Nguyen, Motion Design
Stephanie Varone, Photography and Imaging
Yuntian Dai, Virtual Reality Development
Ping Ho, Visual Studies
Alejandra Cintr贸n Rivera, Student Life

* Two students were selected from Graphic Design this year due to a tie vote. 

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 2024-25 Trustee Scholars will begin this spring and the winners will be selected by the Board of Trustees in May. Learn more about the Trustee Scholar Award and see past Scholars and events. 

The post 15 seniors illuminated as 2023-24 Trustee Scholars, College鈥檚 highest honor appeared first on 四虎影视 of Art and Design.

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.聽

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.

The post 15 seniors awarded College鈥檚 highest honor for talent, contributions, and leadership appeared first on 四虎影视 of Art and Design.