April 24, 2008 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

Students Receive Honors For Artistic Contributions
4 Students’ Works Purchased By SMC For Permanent Collection 

SPARTANBURG, SC – Nine Spartanburg Methodist College students were recognized this week at the College’s annual Fine Arts night for their artistic contributions during the 2007-2008 school year. 

The following awards were announced: 

• India Belton, of Blythewood, SC, received Best in Show
• Ryan Leonard, of Woodruff, SC, received 1st Place – Drawing
• Lauren Huggins, of Georgetown, SC, received 2nd Place – Drawing
• Shavar Foster, of Columbia, SC, received 1st Place – Painting
• Suzanne Williams, of York, SC, received 2nd Place – Painting

Honorable mention awards were presented to Shavar Foster, for an acrylic, and Stanton Wicker, of Prosperity, SC, for a watercolor.

Works produced by SMC students were judged by local juror Jessica Barnes, who has exhibited her own artwork throughout the southeast. She is a resident of Spartanburg County, a member of the Artists’ Guild of Spartanburg and Southern Exposure, and is retired from the South Carolina School for the Deaf and Blind.

“The beauty of working with students in studio art courses is that I am continually able to see their creative ideas take shape and develop.  Many students come to SMC with some good high school experience.  It is nice to know that the students have a chance to enhance  their skills early in their education.  I am also pleased that several of our students plan to major in art when they transfer to a four year institution, “ says Ann Wenz, Professor of Art and Chair of Interdisciplinary Studies.

Cash awards were presented to four students, whose works will be added to the SMC’s permanent collection of student works.

Those students include Jeremy Garcia, of Greer, SC; Alicia Schwalm, of Greenville, SC; Travis Taylor, of York, SC; and Veronica Van Winkle, of Spartanburg, SC.

The cash awards are made possible by Miss Mary Ellen Suitt, a Spartanburg artist and a founding member and past president of the Artists’ Guild of Spartanburg

Spartanburg Methodist College is in its 97th year of providing a quality education to students in a Christian environment. More than 90 percent of SMC graduates continue their education at other institutions of higher learning.

For further information contact director of public information Brian Fulkerson at (864) 587-4254.

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