On Friday, March 6, over 300 students and teachers from 16 area middle and high schools met on the Troy campus for Trojan Art Day.

Trojan Art Day began in 2014 through former Art Education and 3D Instructor, Larry Percy, and engages students with workshops and demonstrations are led by students and faculty from the Department of Art and Design. According to Instructor of Art and Design and this year’s event organizer, Dr. Kelly Berwager, Trojan Art Day and the competition that accompanies it needs to exist to continue putting the spotlight on the visual arts in the K-12 setting.

“Many school systems in Alabama do have visual arts programs throughout the elementary, middle, and high school years, but many do not,” Berwager said. “Most have some sort of middle and high school visual arts programs due to electives and graduation requirements, but a lot of those programs do not receive much in the way of funding and recognition. Offering an art competition and events like TAD on a college campus can reap multiple benefits.”

Some of those benefits include the opportunity for middle and high school students to compete against other students in the area, exposing them to other activities happening outside their communities. Students will also have their artwork displayed at the college level, or in a galley or museum at the local or state level. Because of this, students are recognized for their talents through award programs.

Additionally, middle and high school students learn and experience what art and design can look like at the college level.

“Events like TAD are great recruiting tools for the department and the University because it exposes so many students who might not consider college or who might not have an opportunity to visit a college campus,” Berwager said.

Ruby Howe, a Smiths Station High School student, returned to Trojan Art Day after the event made a lasting impression on her the previous year.  

“When I went last year I made a bunch of buttons, and I had so much fun that it made me want to get a button maker myself and start selling them,” Howe said.

Dakota Masoner, a studio art major from Troy, enjoyed watching students get inspired during the event as a first-time student-volunteer.

“I’m glad that students get to see different mediums, art forms and different interpretations of what makes art,” Masoner said.

An exhibit at the Johnson Center for the Arts showcased the First Place and Best in Show winners of the Trojan Art Day competition. This was made possible through a new benefactor who stepped in to help the event and competition continue this year.

A reception was held on Friday, March 27 to honor the winners. They are as follows:

Middle School Category:

Beth Stanton, St. James School – Crafts, Felted Wool
Joy Seo, St. James School – Drawing, Playing with Light
Emma Su, Auburn Junior High School – Mixed-media, Mug and Yarn
Tim Uhn, East Samford School – New media, Mission; Gas Lab
Layla Moultry, Charles Henderson Middle School – Painting, Drink of Water
Madeline Carmody, Charles Henderson Middle School – Photography, Butterfly
Mary Nell Capps, St. James School – Printmaking, Mary Nell Reflecting
Gabrielle Fulton, Andalusia Junior High School – Sculpture, Rusty the Clown

High School Category:

Madison DeCarlo, Auburn High School – Craft, Sunrise Swan
Jesus Sanchez Hernandez, Charles Henderson High School – Drawing, Home
Jordyn Fisher, Smiths Station High School – Mixed-media, Technical Difficulties
Amanda Nguyen, Auburn High School – New Media, Calcified
Erma Goebel, Enterprise High School – Painting, Collection of ‘Japanese’ items
Brady Cannon, Auburn High School – Photography, Fixed
Madison Mulkey, Charles Henderson High School – Printmaking, Pumpkin Cat
Jiwoong Jang, Auburn High School – Best in Show: 2D, Radiation Hive
NyKeriah C. Chambers, Dothan High School – Best in Show: 3D, Whale Shark Looking for a Snack