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Seniors receive National Art Honor Society awards

MAUHS SENIOR SHAYNA Block, whose capstone project was to design and create a cable-knit sweater, was inducted into the National Art Honor Society on May 26.

MIDDLEBURY — The Patricia A. Hannaford Career Center inducted three students into the National Art Honor Society (NAHS) on May 26, 2020: Ellen Berg (senior, Middlebury Union High School), Shayna Block (senior, Mount Abraham Union High School), and Sabi Ward (senior, Middlebury Union High School).
There are over 58,000 student members in the national organization in over 2,500 different chapters across the United States. The Career Center chapter, which was chartered in 2002, is one of only three in the state of Vermont. The chapter is under the co-direction and advisement of art and design teachers Lisa Rader and Joe Schine. 
True to the tenants of the Career Center, the art honor society was created to give students an immersive, real-life experience in the arts. Holding to the beliefs of the NAHS constitution, the Career Center established a chapter in order to “inspire and recognize students who have shown an outstanding ability and interest in arts, to aid members in attaining the highest standards in art scholarship, character, and service, and to bring art education to the attention of the school and community.” 
Career Center students who have demonstrated exceptional work in the visual and performing arts (music, dance, fine arts, theater, etc.) and have shown strong character are nominated by their Career Center program instructors to qualify for the NAHS induction process. Students must devise an independently led project called a “capstone project” and are encouraged to work under the direction of an expert mentor. Qualification for induction culminates with the student formally presenting their process and project to a panel of art adjudicators, as well as documenting their final artistic products to include in their portfolios.
The vision that shapes the capstone project is one where students identify and complete personally meaningful creative work. Students work in combination with their various schools and communities. The project itself is one that motivates and stimulates students to delve deeply and intensely into a specific topic. The arts faculty at the Career Center believe that through this intellectually (and sometimes physically) intense work, students learn to produce independent, creative and high-quality work that exceeds high school standards and expectations. A capstone project is a special opportunity for students to really feel what it is like to work as an artist.
Acceptance into the NAHS is a rigorous process and is considered an honor.
Ellen Berg focused her studies in Visual Communications and Design & Illustration. Her capstone project was to produce a graphic novel from concept to illustration with a writing collaboration with fellow senior Joseph Findlay. She will attend the Maryland Institute College of Art.
Shayna Block, a Design & Illustration student, shaped her project around knitting design and completion of a sweater with cable knitting. She will attend Pratt Institute.
Sabi Ward is an Addison Repertory Theater student. For her project she upcycled garments adorned with illustrations applied with the silkscreen process. She will attend the University of Vermont.

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