Release Date: April 20, 2011
Kennesaw State College of the Arts names Outstanding Seniors
Students selected for recognition from college's degree programs
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 announced its 2010-2011 University Scholars, who were recognized during a university-wide ceremony on April 22. Students are selected for this special recognition from the college's degree programs. The 2010-2011 KSU College of the Arts Outstanding Seniors are:
 |
Amy Johnson |
 |
Jacqueline LaMere |
 |
Chasen Barry |
 |
Brandon Bell |
 |
Megan Otte |
 |
Andy Allen |
 |
Daniel Terry |
Photos credits: Scott Singleton,
Jacqueline LaMere, Linda Tincher, Melissa Ray, Megan Otte, Tracie Hinnant and Sarah Singleton
|
Amy Johnson of Alpharetta, for Master of Arts in Teaching art. Johnson believes that the best forum for imaginative brain play is the art classroom. Her action research project “The value of play as it links to creativity and transference as demonstrated by neuroscience in art education” demonstrated her commitment to the belief that creative skills developed in the art classroom can be used in other disciplines and in other life circumstances. She modeled this belief to her students in 2010 when she placed second in the Society of Book, Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and the Simon and Schuster Books Annual Illustration contest, receiving a $2,000 Target grant for her art unit entitled “Embracing equity through craft and multicultural art studies.” In the past, Johnson also designed interdisciplinary units and goals for the connections team to integrate science and math into the curriculum at the Rex Mill Science and Math Magnet School. In today’s ever-changing age of technology, business and design, her goal is to equip her students with creative thinking skills that will help them become better learners overall and lifelong learners who can teach themselves.
Jacqueline LaMere of Alpharetta, for art education. Her faculty honoree is Associate Professor of Art Education Sandra Bird. After graduating in 2008 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in marketing, LaMere returned to KSU because she believes every student should have the opportunity to participate in the visual arts. “Art,” she contends, “helps develop a student’s creativity, problem-solving skills, and allows them to communicate visually.” She demonstrated her belief that all students can learn by serving as art director at the Prevention Planning for Latino Youth in Marietta and as third grade tutor for Hands on Atlanta, Discovery at Parklane Elementary in East Point. As co-president of the KSU National Art Education Association Student Chapter, LaMere spearheaded the chapter’s participation in the All State Art Symposium in 2009 and 2010 and the presentation of “Common Currents: From the Osun River to the Chattahoochee” at the 2009 Georgia Art Education Association conference. Her recent work “Inside-Up” was accepted into the 2009 GAEA Members Juried Show. Whether working toward elegant simplicity in her own art work or inspiring creativity and freedom of expression in her students, her intention is to inspire a love of the visual arts.
Chasen Barry of Kennesaw, for visual arts. His faculty honoree is Assistant Professor Keith Smith. Barry graduated summa cum laude in the fall of 2010 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a major in art and a concentration in ceramics. During his enrollment at Kennesaw State University, he achieved many honors and awards, appearing on KSU’s President’s List, winning a First Place Award in ceramics in the 2008 Annual Juried Student Exhibition, and winning another First Place in sculpture in the 2010 Annual Student Juried Exhibition. In addition, he participated in the Mudslingers ceramics club and was an officer of the Visions Student Art Guild. In 2009 he was awarded an internship under the sculptor Beth Cavener Stichter and in 2010 he was invited to return to her studio in eastern Washington as a paid studio assistant.
Brandon Bell of Moultrie, for music performance. In fall 2010, Bell earned a Bachelor of Music degree, double majoring in Music Performance and Education. Bell studied saxophone with Sam Skelton, KSU’s director of jazz studies. During his course of study at KSU, he played principal parts in the Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra. He received the Sam Wilhoit Jazz Endowed Scholarship in Music and was the winner of the 2010 Concerto Competition performing the Creston Concerto for Saxophone and Wind Ensemble.
Megan Otte of Plano, Texas, for music education. Otte earned her Bachelor of Music degree in general music education, having studied voice with Eileen Moreman and music education with Barbara Hammond and Alison Mann. In addition to receiving the HOPE and Glenn Hollingsworth, Jr., Endowed Scholarships, she was inducted into the Pi Kappa Lambda music honor society in 2010. During her tenure at Kennesaw State, Otte served as an officer of the Collegiate Music Educators Conference, sang in three musical ensembles, and tutored other students in aural skills. Outside the School of Music, she worked as a private piano and voice instructor for Courtnay and Rowe Corporation and a choral music intern at Roswell Presbyterian Church. She currently works as a choral assistant at Lost Mountain Middle School in Cobb County, and she hopes to work as an elementary school music educator in the coming year.
Andy Allen of Prattville, Ala., for dance. His faculty honoree is Associate Professor of Dance Ivan Pulinkala. Allen, has performed with the KSU Dance Company in repertory choreographed by Bill T. Jones, Lauri Stallings and Ivan Pulinkala. He has also performed in Atlanta Ballet’s production of Don Quixote and Sleeping Beauty and at the National American College Dance Festival gala at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. In addition, he has performed with gloATL in the productions of "ROEM" and "Hinterland." A recipient of the 2010 Outstanding Senior Scholarship in Dance, Allen is a member of KSU’s chapter of Nu Delta Alpha and the Epsilon Nu chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. He is also a member of the KSU College of the Arts Diversity and Equity Committee, the College of the Arts Annual Campaign Student Committee, the KSU College of the Arts Dean’s Student Advisory Committee and the Conversation Partners Program.
Daniel Terry of Canton, for theatre and performance studies. His faculty honoree is Associate Professor Jamie Bullins. Terry arrived at KSU for the fall semester of 2006, choosing to focus on a concentration in design/tech. For the past two years he has been a student assistant in the scene shop, working under the tutelage of technical director Kenyon Shiver. His diligence and strong work ethic has led to many opportunities within the department’s production season, including sound board operation ("Batboy the Musical," "Annie Get Your Gun"), properties master ("Everything That Rises Must Converge"), assistant technical director ("Fences"), sound design ("Melancholy Play"), scenic design ("The Disaster Plays"), and technical director ("Good Person of Szechwan"). The quality of Daniel’s work has already brought him to the attention of area professional organizations such as Georgia Ensemble Theatre (assistant technical director) and the Aurora Theatre (sound design).
# # #
Kennesaw State University is the third-largest university in Georgia, offering more than 70 graduate and undergraduate degrees, including new doctorates in education, business and nursing. A member of the 35-unit University System of Georgia, Kennesaw State is a comprehensive, residential institution with a growing student population of more than 22,500 from 142 countries.
The KSU College of the Arts is one of only four Georgia institutions to have achieved full national accreditation for all of its arts departments.