{"id":45347,"date":"2019-04-24T12:01:56","date_gmt":"2019-04-24T17:01:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=45347"},"modified":"2019-04-24T12:02:00","modified_gmt":"2019-04-24T17:02:00","slug":"%ef%bb%bffhsu-students-have-design-on-success","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=45347","title":{"rendered":"\ufeffFHSU students have design on success"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Randy Gonzales<\/strong>
University Relations and Marketing <\/em>
Rayvon Lewis might have been the most surprised person in the room when his name was announced as the 2019 Pencil Project Award winner Monday evening at the 25th annual Leo Burnett Portfolio Review.
Lewis, a Fort Hays State University junior from Blue Springs, Mo., was ready to clap for the winner. Instead, all the applause was for him. That, and a $10,000 check.
\u201cI was getting my hands ready to clap for somebody else,\u201d sais Lewis, a graphic design major. \u201cThen they said my name. Is this real right now? This is amazing.\u201d
Lewis was recruited to play football for the Tigers and was not even aware of the graphic design program. He planned to be a studio artist. But after he started taking classes, he learned how he could create his art on a computer, which intrigued him. And a graphic artist was born.

After three years in the football program, Lewis had to make a tough decision, choosing between his two passions. When he met the requirements for the Bachelor of Fine Arts Portfolio Review in Graphic Design, he chose the artistic path.
\u201cI feel like everything happens for a reason, by the grace of God,\u201d Lewis said.
Leo Burnett Worldwide, an advertising company with its headquarters in Chicago, has had a relationship with FHSU for the past 25 years, ever since a Fort Hays graphic design student, Micah Walker, walked through the doors one day to have them take a look at his portfolio. The company liked what it saw and has since provided scholarships and internships to Fort Hays State graphic design students.
The Pencil Project Award highlighted an evening of $25,000 in scholarships and support to the program handed out at the Robbins Center. Erin Pascal, Wichita senior, was one of three winners of last year\u2019s inaugural Pencil Project Award. She received $6,000 and $2,000 each went to two other recipients. Pascal also landed an internship in Chicago last summer.
\u201cIt\u2019s an opportunity for students to tell their stories,\u201d Pascal said of the Pencil Project. \u201cYou have to describe your personal life and your story through graphic design. Everyone\u2019s is completely different.\u201d
Kerri Soukup, executive creative director at Leo Burnett, said there was no difficulty in choosing this year\u2019s Pencil Project winner. She said it was a unanimous decision.
\u201cWe were all impressed with this individual,\u201d she said.
Lewis, who has a small business license, said he can put the scholarship money to good use.
After graduating from FHSU in spring 2021, he plans to return home to the Kansas City area. He might do graphic design work for a friend who wants to start his own church, or he might teach art.
\u201cIn the inner city we have a lot of black kids who don\u2019t have a leader,\u201d said Lewis, an African American. \u201cThey all choose basketball or football. I can be the example: You don\u2019t have to just play football, you don\u2019t have to play basketball. You can be an artist. I have my motto: Be free.\u201d
Lewis said he got his artistic talent from his grandmother, Gertie Lewis.
\u201cMy grandmother is the artist,\u201d he said. \u201cShe\u2019s an amazing artist.\u201d
Wichita junior Parker Cyrier was amazed when her name was called as the recipient of the first place junior overall portfolio, and received a $1,000 scholarship. She shed tears of joy while posing for a photo.
\u201cI didn\u2019t expect to get any scholarship,\u201d Cyrier said. \u201cI was so nervous. I was kind of shocked. It overwhelmed me a little bit.\u201d
Newton senior Angelica Chavez was nervously awaiting the news of award winners while sitting in the lobby at the Robbins Center before the program started. Chavez submitted a project last year, but did not receive a scholarship. She admitted to being nervous during Monday\u2019s interview.
\u201cOnce you hit the door, you have to shake it off,\u201d she said. \u201cIt went well.\u201d
Indeed, it did. Chavez learned later she was awarded a Leo B. scholarship for $250.
Chaiwat Thumsujarit (chye-WHAT TUM-sue-jair-it), professor of graphic design, has taught at FHSU for 37 years. He said the Leo Burnett Company chooses FHSU students because of their Midwestern values.
\u201cThe first generation and second generation of students who work at Leo Burnett, they call our students the Kansas kids, because they love their work ethic,\u201d Thumsujarit said.
The department also received funding as part of the Pencil Project, receiving $5,000 both last year and this year. That money will be put to good use, said Karrie Simpson Voth, chair of the Department of Art and Design and professor of graphic design. She said the Leo Burnett funding will aid recruiting efforts in diversity and inclusion initiatives, not just ethnic and socio-economic, but also diversity in thinking, etc.
\u201cWe now have $10,000 to do a design camp we have been planning,\u201d she said. \u201cIn the fall, the department wants to bring in high school sophomores and juniors \u201cto see what it\u2019s like to be a designer.\u201d
Students will continue to dream big. Someday, Leo Burnett and FHSU will produce another Erin Paschal, another Rayvon Lewis. And many more like them.
A career in the arts was not on Lewis\u2019 radar in high school, when he was banking on his athleticism to get him ahead in life.
\u201cIf somebody would have told me in high school my junior year, \u2018You\u2019re going to be pursuing art,\u2019 I would have said, \u2018You\u2019re lying. I\u2019m going to the NFL,\u2019 \u201d he said.
Lewis was still in disbelief hours after the announcement. \u00a0
\u201cThis,\u201d he said, shaking his head, \u201cis an amazing opportunity.\u201d
A complete list of the scholarship award winners:
\u00a0
Leo Burnett Pencil Project ($10,000)<\/strong>
BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. (64015):<\/strong> Rayvon Lewis, junior.

Leo B. $250 winners<\/strong>
BLOOM (67865): <\/strong>Angelica Chavez, freshman.
DUBLIN, Ohio (43017):<\/strong> Xinghong (Michelle) Yang, junior.
EMPORIA (66801): <\/strong>Tessa Kriss, senior.
GREAT BEND (67530): <\/strong>Maddy Otter, junior.
HAYS (67601): <\/strong>Morgan Choitz, sophomore.
Savannah Wiens, sophomore.
HILL CITY (67642): <\/strong>Annalise Albrecht.
RUSSELL (67665): <\/strong>Tim Krug, sophomore.
SAINT MARYS, Ga. (31558): <\/strong>Christopher Johnson, sophomore.

Senior overall portfolio<\/strong>
BENTON (67017):<\/strong> First, Thomas Giebler, $1,500.
GARDEN CITY (67846):<\/strong> Second, Caitlyn Frazer, $750.

Junior overall portfolio<\/strong>
ANDOVER (67002):<\/strong> First, Parker Cyrier, $1,000.
TOPEKA (66614):<\/strong> Second, Aric Zillinger, $500.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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