This fall, the Graphic Design and Fine Arts Department sponsored its first poster contest for high school students, the Art + Effect Poster Contest, for which students submitted conceptual posters using traditional media or computer-generated graphics that highlighted the theme of “Equality.” The Department chose this theme because of Cabrini’s emphasis on advocating for universal human rights and dignity.
“The contest and exhibition allows us to share our social justice mission with the greater community,” said Jeanne Komp, Associate Professor of Graphic Design. “The topic of equality has been especially timely in America. With all the media coverage, we felt that this social justice topic would be one in which high school students could relate to the most.”
The Department received an impressive 59 submissions from seven high schools in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
“It is very exciting to see area students and teachers embrace this opportunity,” Komp said. “We wanted to provide a forum in which high school students could share their vision and talents. It is important to empower students to become future leaders and use their skills to become makers of change.”
On Sunday, Nov. 19, the work of the 20 contest winners were featured at the Art + Effect Poster Exhibition on Cabrini’s campus, in Grace Hall. The winners are Aleksander Hudock, Alyssa McLean, and Bristol Long (Berks Career and Technology Center); Ariel Vergara (Hunterdon Central Regional High School); Ben Danilak and Jacob Haury (Jenkintown Middle/High School); Bryson Bennett, Veronica Gdowik, Machaela McGuire, Alyssa Noel, Kylie Pelzer, Ethan Pilipczuk, Ellie Windham, and Mattie Young (Perkiomen Valley High School); Julia Fiddler and Kayla Mastronardo (Plymouth Whitemarsh High School); and Jake Alcavage, Ramon Birriel, and Braelyn Zearbaugh (Triton Regional High School).
Nine professional graphic designers, including five Cabrini alumni, served as judges, and juried entries based on originality, craftsmanship, and thematic message. The judges were Nicole Bernat (’08), adjunct faculty and Graphic Designer, Nicole Bernat Designs; Ennis Carter, Director, Social Impact Studios; Krista (Kroslowitz) Grabowski (‘12), Art Director, Seventh Point; Mary Gunheim (’10), Graphic Designer, Connors Advertising & Design; Shawn Hileman, Curator and Graphic Designer, Masthead Print Studio; Chris Loringer (’07), Senior Product Experience Designer, Comcast; Nicole (Kachoulas) Miller (‘15), Junior Graphic Designer and Marketing Services Assistant, PDC Brands; Jon Rea, former adjunct faculty and Art Supervisor, H4B Catapult; and Tom Whalen, Illustrator, StrongStuff.
PHOTOS: Art + Effect Poster Exhibition
Posters represented above by: (top row) Alyssa Noel, Mattie Young, Cecelia Bloom, Ariel Vergara, Machaela McGuire, (bottom row) Ben Danilak, and Kayla Mastronardo.