College of Arts + Architecture receives national scholastic award

The College of Arts + Architecture is the 2022 Dick Robinson Award for Excellence as the Mid-Carolina Regional Art Affiliate of the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards.

This annual award is presented by the Alliance of Young Artists & Writers, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to identify students with exceptional artistic and literary talent and present their remarkable work to the world.

Tesh Ramey, arts education specialist for the College of Arts + Architecture and scholastic affiliate team leader, accepted the award at the Scholastic Affiliate Leadership Conference in New York City.

The College of Arts + Architecture became the Mid-Carolina Regional Art Affiliate in fall 2019. The Mid-Carolina Region for Scholastic Art encompasses 26 counties in North Carolina and recently expanded to include York County, South Carolina. This past year, Mid-Carolina evaluated more than 2,000 art submissions to recognize 286 Gold and Silver Key regional winners. Twelve of these artists went on to win Gold and Silver Medals nationally.

Ramsey acknowledged the support of Director of Collaborative Works Wendy Fishman, the college’s Business Services Coordinator Haley Wallace and college leadership in achieving the honor.

The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards are the nation’s longest running and most prestigious scholarship and recognition program for creative teens in grades 7-12. A noteworthy roster of past winners includes Andy Warhol, Sylvia Plath, Truman Capote, Richard Avedon, Robert Redford, Joyce Carol Oates, Stephen King and John Updike.

Photo: Tesh Ramey with Chris Wisniewski, executive director of the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, at the awards event.