2006 U.S. Presidential Scholarsin the Literary and Visual Arts

The Corcoran Gallery of Art, in partnership with the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts (NFAA), presented the work of the seven Presidential Scholars in the Arts winners in the Film and Video, Visual Arts and Writing categories. The exhibition was on view at the Corcoran Gallery of Art from June 3 through June 25, 2006.

Presidential Scholars is a national recognition program honoring the nation’s most distinguished graduating high school seniors. Each year, NFAA nominates up to 50 NFAA ARTS winners for consideration by the Commission on Presidential Scholars; 20 students are eventually selected to receive the Presidential Scholars in the Arts designation. These students are recognized for their accomplishments in a variety of areas: the arts, academics, leadership, and community involvement.

The arts honorees, recommended exclusively through participation in NFAA’s ARTS program, joined 121 other Presidential Scholars during National Recognition Week, June 23-27, in Washington, D.C., for a reception honoring the winners and their families at the Corcoran on June 25th.

Christina De Paul, Dean of the Corcoran College of Art and Design, commented that “the program’s winners are extraordinary examples of innovation and creativity. This partnership with NFAA is an excellent way for the College to help support and promote the work of the nation’s most distinguished youth working in the arts today.”

There were seven student winners on exhibit at the Corcoran:

Steven Wilson, Santa Ynez Valley High School, Solvang, CA
Winner in film and video

Rachel Goss, High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Houston, TX
Winner in visual arts

Jason Sanford, Saint Mark’s School of Texas, Dallas, TX
Winner in visual arts

Eloise Santa Maria, High School for the Visual and Performing Arts, Houston, TX
Winner in visual arts

Sarah Campbell, Alabama School of Fine Arts, Birmingham, AL
Winner in writing

Tassity Johnson, High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Houston, TX
Winner in writing

Rachel Mans, Greensburg Central Catholic High School, Greensburg, PA
Winner in writing

The three visual arts scholars had three pieces on display. The three writershad two to three framed excerpts of their works and the film winnerfeatured two videos on a monitor in the gallery.