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Stamps Commencement 2023: Creatives Celebrate Achievement

May 3, 2023

Students, friends, and family gathered with the Stamps community on Saturday, April 29 for the annual Commencement Celebration at the North Campus Research Complex. More than 100 students took part in the ceremonial event that honored the accomplishments of undergraduate and graduate students at the Stamps School of Art & Design. 

Alum Cecilia Méndez-Ortiz (MFA ​‘02) delivered the keynote address, encouraging students to never ​“reject themselves,” telling them, ​“As you embark on this next beginning, of course, you have so much more to learn — we all do, all the time. But with respect to where you are right now, trust fully in the ways that you are, however much in process that may be. You will continue to scribble and evolve as humans in this world, and y’all deserve every opportunity to make, manifest your collective dreams.” 

Cecilia Méndez-Ortiz stands at a podium onstage
Cecilia Méndez-Ortiz

Each student was also given the opportunity to say some parting words to the crowd, sharing stories, memories, and messages of love and appreciation. 

A list of all award recipients is listed below, and a full video of the commencement ceremony can be viewed here.

2023 Commencement Award Recipients

Jean Paul Slusser Award for the MFA Thesis Project

  • Oksana Briukhovetska

  • Emerson Granillo

  • Michelle Hinojosa

  • Nicholas La Marca

  • Sebastian Llovera

  • Barbara Pearsall

  • Peter Stack

Jean Paul Slusser Award for the MDes Thesis Project

  • Niki Fairchild-Azevedo

  • Joie Zhang

Stamps MFA students applaud

Summa Cum Laude Graduates

  • Sky Christoph

  • Reyne Lesnau

  • Caitlin Martens

  • Samuel Turner

The Candy R. Wei Prize for International Study 

  • Anders Lundin

  • Olivia Ortiz

  • Kristina Rogers

  • Emily Tamulewicz

Graduating students pose together on a staircase

Integrative Project and BA Capstone Award 

  • Paulina Braverman

  • Natalie Bultman

  • Olivia Joy Colasanti 

  • Gabriel Salvatore Consiglio 

  • Madison Grosvenor

  • Taylor Henegar

  • Casey (Row) Rheault

  • Kristina Rogers

  • Elle Schwiderson

  • Samuel Turner

Senior Studio Award 

  • Reyne Lesnau

Two students hug after commencement

Integrative Project Written Thesis Award

  • Andrea Ziemkowski

Gorman Award

  • Sky Christoph

Big Idea Award Finalists

  • Sky Christoph

  • Pheiv Kurtz

  • Edward Shimborske

Big Idea Award Recipient

Dean Carlos Francisco Jackson awards Pheiv Kurtz the 2023 Big Idea Award.
Dean Carlos Francisco Jackson awards Pheiv Kurtz the 2023 Big Idea Award. Read more about Pheiv’s project here.
Posted May 3, 2023 in Stamps