Release Date: April 20, 2009
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 University Scholars, who were recognized during a recent university-wide ceremony on April 3.
In each of the college’s degree programs, chose one outstanding senior for this recognition. Each student then selected one member as his or her honoree.
The 2009 KSU College of the Arts University Scholars are:
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Jean Peyton Plumer Photograph by Melissa Ray |
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Shawn Keswani Photograph by Melissa Ray |
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Tsuey Wei Seah Photograph by Melissa Ray |
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Mesia Austin Photograph by Melissa Ray |
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RoseAnne Simpson Photograph by Melissa Ray |
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Tyler Crafton Photograph by Tim Goldman |
Jean Peyton Plumer of Marietta, for art education. Her honoree is Assistant Professor of Art Education Diana Gregory. During her tenure here, Plumer has been teaching art classes to children between 5 and 12 years of age at ArtsCool in Buford, Georgia, and working with home-schooled students creating cross-curriculum art lessons. She is co-president of the KSU National Art Education Association Student Chapter and has served as a juror of Region 3 for the All-State Art Symposium hosted by KSU. Her recent accomplishments include inclusion in the Twenty-sixth Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition and in the Tannery Row Artist Colony Show in Buford.
Sofja Kose of Marietta, for fine arts. Her honoree is Associate Professor of Art Jeanne Sperry. Kose began her college career as a marketing major at Latvia University in Riga, Latvia, her native country. When she moved to the United States, she enrolled at KSU with the intention of immersing herself in the study of English as a Second Language, majoring in English and returning home after she finished her degree. However, her first drawing class inspired her to change her major to graphic design. She met the challenges of juggling a full course load at KSU, through a full-time job, and mastering the difficulties of a second language, all while maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.75, with a 3.9 in her major; she graduated this past December. During her academic career, Kose participated in several gallery shows, designed solutions for non-profit organizations and successfully completed an internship with the Cartoon Network.
Shawn Keswani of Smyrna, for music. His honoree is Artist-in-Residence in Voice Valerie Walters. As a KSU Chamber Singer, Keswani has participated in the annual Georgia Music Educators Association Conference and All-College Chorus while maintaining a 3.7 GPA. For the past eight years, he has volunteered as a choir member, cantor, and interim music director for a local Catholic church that uses an historical liturgy in Latin. Keswani’s other accomplishments include earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a Certificate in Leadership from the University of Georgia. After graduating from KSU, he plans to pursue graduate studies and become a choral conductor and professor of music.
Tsuey Wei Seah of Duluth, for music education. Her honoree is Professor of Music David Watkins. Seah is pursing both the music performance and music education degrees at KSU. In 2007, she was awarded a Steinway Society Scholarship and the David Watkins Piano Performance Endowed Scholarships and was honored as an Outstanding Performer by the Georgia Music Teachers Association. Seah was named one of the University’s School of Music concerto finalists for 2008. She was awarded Phi Kappa Lambda Honor Society lifetime membership in 2008. She plans to become an elementary school teacher and teach general music when she graduates.
Mesia Austin of Atlanta, for music performance. Her honoree is Professor of Music Oral Moses. A major in music performance at KSU, she studies percussion with John Lawless, plays with almost every ensemble at Kennesaw State, and teaches private students in her own percussion studio. In addition, she has taught at five high schools, written four drum lines, started her own drum corps, and served as a percussion assistant for the Georgia Youth Symphony. When she graduates, her plans include extending her drum-line writing skills into other areas of music. She also dreams of establishing a community music camp to share her expertise and love of music with children.
RoseAnne Simpson of Acworth, for theatre and performance studies. Her honoree is Assistant Professor of Theatre and Performance Studies Hannah Harvey. In 2006, Simpson earned her Associate’s Degree in Television Production at Chattahoochee Technical College, winning a Southeast Regional Emmy award for student production of the original film “Cold Dish.” At KSU, she directed students in world-premiere performances of Pulitzer prizewinner Suzan-Lori Parks’ 365 Days/365 Plays National Festival. Recently, she performed in KSU’s production of the Greek comedy “Lysistrata.” For the past two years, Simpson has served as shop assistant to the department’s technical director, Kenyon Shiver, constructing and painting scenery and installing lighting for numerous theatrical productions.
Tyler Crafton of Atlanta, for interdisciplinary studies. His honoree is Temporary Assistant Professor of Art History Jessica Stephenson. As an interdisciplinary studies major and member of the KSU Honors Program, Crafton has chosen history and art history as his major concentrations. After working as production manager for "The Sentinel" for three years, he resigned his position to undertake an art history seminar on medieval treasury objects and an internship at the Michael C. Carlos Museum at Emory University. His study aboard trips to Germany, the Netherlands, England, Belize and Guatemala have further enriched his education. Crafton is completing his honors thesis on the political symbolism of dress in the portraits of Queen Elizabeth I of England, research he hopes to continue in graduate school.
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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.
The KSU College of the Arts is one of only four Georgia institutions to have achieved full national accreditation for all of its arts programs.