Release Date: April 20, 2010
Kennesaw State College of the Arts names Outstanding Seniors
For media inquiries: Cheryl Anderson Brown, Director of Public Relations,
770-499-3417 or cbrown@kennesaw.edu
KENNESAW, Ga.—The College of the Arts at Kennesaw State University announces its 2009-2010 University Scholars, who were recognized during a recent university-wide ceremony. Students are selected for this special recognition from the college's degree programs. Each student then selected one faculty member as his or her honoree. The 2009-2010 KSU College of the Arts outstanding seniors are:
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Susan Becker Jones |
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Marcy Starz |
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Brett Carson |
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Brandon McDaniel |
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Greer Yarborough |
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Andrew Puckett
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Photos credits: Susan Becker Jones, Cheryl Anderson Brown, Brandon McDaniel and Lauren Highfill
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Susan Becker Jones of Canton, for art education. Her faculty honoree is Associate Professor of Art Education Ricky Garner. Jones graduated summa cum laude in December 2009, after returning to Kennesaw to become an artist and teacher. In her words, "I not only want to teach art, but I want to expand each student's inventiveness through the further development of his or her critical thinking skills." Jones has served as a photographer for the All-State Art Symposium, secretary of the KSU chapter of the National Art Education Association, a contributor to the Mudslingers Ceramics Guide and a volunteer with the Arts and Craft Education Program at WellStar Kennestone Hospital. When she was a KSU student, her connection to the community also included volunteering with the Cherokee County Humane Society and the Freedom Middle School chorus. Jones counts among her most recent accomplishments a presentation, "Multiculturalism Teaching Strategies," at the Georgia Art Education Association professional conference in the fall.
Marcy Starz of Marietta, for fine arts. Her faculty honoree is Associate Professor of Art Valerie Dibble. Starz is an emerging artist from Marietta. She participated in the KSU visual arts study-abroad program in Montepulciano, Italy, and she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in December 2009. During her years of study at KSU, Starz concentrated her studio work in drawing and painting. From 2007 to 2009, she was co-president of Visions,the student art guild. She was also the recipient of several scholarships, including the Visual Arts Study Abroad Scholarship and the South Cobb/Austell Rotary Club Scholarship. In addition to her academic pursuits, Starz also has maintained a busy career as a gallery artist in the Atlanta art scene. Her most promising achievement is securing an introductory exhibition of her work at Mason Murer Galleryin Atlanta. Her work will debut there in May of this year.
Brett Carson of Mount Airy, for music. His faculty honoree is Professor of Piano David Watkins. Carson is a senior Bachelor of Arts candidate in the School of Music, having transferred to KSU from Truett-McConnell College. A recipient of the Cobb County Music Teachers Association Scholarship, he is a piano major in the studio of David Watkins. Carson also composes and has studied composition with Laurence Sherr. His compositional work is informed by a wide variety of interests and influences, including painting, poetry, philosophy, film, mythology and biology. Because of his outstanding ability and academic record, Carson is being inducted into the Theta Tau Chapter of Pi Kappa Lambda National Honorary Music Society in 2010. His many musical activities at KSU include performing in the KSU Jazz Ensemble and Combos, the KSU Chamber Singers, the KSU Wind Ensemble and the KSU Orchestra. Chosen as a finalist in the 2008 KSU Concerto Competition, he has performed as a pianist professionally throughout north Georgia. Carson intends to major in composition and theory in graduate school.
Brandon McDaniel of Powder Springs, for music education. His faculty honoree is Associate Professor of Music Michael Alexander. McDaniel took full advantage of his education at KSU, receiving his Bachelor of Music in music education in December 2009. He says he entered KSU as a marginal bass player and left as principal bass in the orchestra and a finalist in the KSU Concerto Competition. Not only did he excel as a bass player, McDaniel also wrote several compositions while at KSU and even held his own composition recital. He was also selected to student teach at Walton High School. McDaniel was also active in the community as a KSU student. He currently teaches bass at the Georgia Center for the Arts and performs with the Cobb Symphony Orchestra. McDaniel was one of only two students to maintain a regular chair in the CSO while studying at KSU.
Greer Yarborough of Canton, for dance. Her faculty honoree is Associate Professor of Dance Ivan Pulinkala. Having established a record of artistic and scholarly excellence, Yarborough is among the first to graduate with KSU's new Bachelor of Arts degree in dance. She has been actively involved with the KSU Dance Company, serving as its vice president and leading a number of community service initiatives. She also has represented the dance program at the American College Dance Festival and at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. In spring 2009, she performed with Atlanta Ballet in its production of "Don Quixote." Yarborough has been on the Dean's List and the President's List every semester at KSU and holds a 3.9 academic GPA. She is also a member of Nu Delta Alpha, the national dance honor society.
Andrew Puckett of Kennesaw, for theatre and performance studies. His faculty honoree is Assistant Professor of Acting Harrison Long. Puckett's numerous acting credits range from classical to contemporary, from traditional to experimental. As an actor, he is a three-time Irene Ryan Award nominee for the American College Theatre Festival. Through his association with the KSU Tellers, his work has been featured in storytelling festivals, in local schools and in KSU's student-adapted production of "Beowulf," presented at the 2007 Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland. In 2008, Puckett completed the intensive summer acting program at the Gaiety School of Acting in Dublin, Ireland. In 2009, he performed in "Moby Dick," which was awarded the prize for best performance in the 21st Annual Festival International de Theatre Universitaire de Casablanca. As a KSU theatre and performance studies major, he has received the Joel and Betty Siegel and the Robert and Alivia Lipson Endowed Arts scholarships, has been selected for "Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities" and has enjoyed membership in Alpha Psi Omega, the theatre honor society.
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A member of the 35-unit University System of Georgia, Kennesaw State University is a comprehensive, residential institution with a growing student population of more than 21,000 from 142 countries. The third-largest university in Georgia, Kennesaw State offers more than 65 graduate and undergraduate degrees, including new doctorates in education and business.