Gold medal for art student
Bailey Powell, a high school senior in the Visual Arts program at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA), is a National Gold Medal winner in the Scholastic Art & Writing competition, and her painting, “Self Respect,” was selected for the American Vision Award – Best of Show for the NC Eastern/Central region.
Powell, from Asheville, has been accepted into UNCSA’s undergraduate costume design program in the School of Design and Production (D&P). She has been working with D&P faculty member Bill Brewer, costume designer for the Spring Dance production, hand painting costumes for one of the dance pieces.
She won 13 gold keys and two silver keys at Scholastic’s regional competition in January.
Gold medals are awarded by Scholastic to the most outstanding works in the nation, and an esteemed panel of jurors selects the best five works in each region for its American Voices and Visions awards.
“This is an outstanding honor for Bailey,” said Joseph P. Tilford, Dean of the School of Design and Production, of which the Visual Arts Program is a part. “Her success highlights the talent, commitment and hard work of our Visual Arts students, and the excellent level of instruction they receive from our dedicated, top-notch faculty.”
Will Taylor, director of the Visual Arts program, said Powell’s disciplined work ethic is key to her success.
“Bailey has grown tremendously from rigorous critical discourse and the many hours vested in our studios. We are extremely proud of her and this remarkable achievement,” he said.
Student winners of National Gold Medal Awards are invited, along with their teachers and families, to an awards ceremony and exhibit at Carnegie Hall in New York on May 31 and June 1.
The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards continues to be the longest-running, most prestigious recognition program for creative teens in the U.S., and the largest source of scholarships for young artists and writers.
