President Starr will give a reproduced copy of winning piece as a Christmas gift
University development is holding an art contest for undergraduate students that will allow them to share meaningful experiences they have had at Baylor.
Cindy Dougherty, director of donor relations for University Development, said the contest was partly inspired by The President’s Scholarship Initiative: “How Extraordinary the Stories.”
The scholarship initiative is working to raise $100 million for student scholarships.
“As you know, you can tell a story, you can write a story, you can have drama or music, but another way to depict that is through art,” Dougherty said. “We felt like that would be a very expressive way to hear from our students as to what has inspired them in their Baylor experience.”
The contest encourages students to submit an original work of art that is inspired by experiences that they are thankful for.
Everything from mission trips to chapel sessions can be drawn upon for inspiration.
A panel of judges will review the artwork and the first-place winner will receive $1,000, along with having their piece reproduced and given as a Christmas gift from President Ken Starr and his wife Alice.
Other exceptional submissions will have the opportunity to be shown in library exhibits in the spring.
Dougherty said the contest is not just for art students, but also “for any student who wants to be able to share.”
Requirements for the contest are few — entries must be two-dimensional and submitted with an entry form that is available on the university development website.
Dougherty said she is excited to see what students come up with.
“Baylor students are amazing,” she said. “They are our best ambassadors, and so for us to be able to share their stories in different ways is a treasure.”
McKinney junior Kristen Eastland, a graphic design studio art major, was the first to submit an entry to the contest.
Eastland transferred from Oklahoma State University this year and has already found inspiration for her entry.
“I’ve been feeling really thankful the past couple of weeks because I’m a transfer student and Baylor has already given me so much,” she said. “I think it’s a cool opportunity to show that.”
Submissions must be brought to the university development office by 5 p.m., Sept. 15.
