The Department of Art, Art History and Design announces 2026 Award and Scholarship Winners

The Department of Art, Art History, and Design (AAHD) honored its 2026 award and scholarship recipients during the opening reception for the Undergraduate Juried Exhibition, which was held on April 10 at (SCENE) Metrospace. The awards and scholarships recognize Art, Art History, and Design students for their outstanding coursework and creative skills this past academic year. 

The following is the complete list of 2026 AAHD awards and scholarship recipients: 

Joe and Shirley Kuszai Endowed Scholarship

Awarded by Graphic Design faculty, the Joe and Shirley Kuszai Endowed Scholarship is presented to an outstanding undergraduate student at the junior level majoring in Graphic Design.

2026 Recipients:

Kara Chapman, Ashtyn Mosingo, Connor DiGasboro, Juno Krumrey

Marta S. Hentschel Schafer Endowed Scholarship in Art

The Marta S. Hentschel Schafer Endowed Scholarship in Art is awarded to one or more outstanding undergraduate students with a major in the Department of Art, Art History, and Design. The award is typically given to students from Michigan.

2026 Recipients: Addison Maul, Asli Altintop, Kathryn Feers, Lara Baroudi 

Ralph Calder Scholarship

Presented by the AAHD Undergraduate Awards Committee and named after Ralph Calder, architect of the Kresge Art Center, which houses the Department of Art, Art History, and Design, this scholarship is awarded annually to junior level students in the Department of Art, Art History, and Design who have demonstrated excellence in their completed coursework and exhibited potential for performing superbly in their senior year. 

2026 Recipients: Morgan Thomas, Ryleigh Rahman, Trinity Wise

Geraldine Potchen Award

The Geraldine Potchen Award is presented to a sophomore in the Department of Art, Art History, and Design who has demonstrated excellence in their completed coursework and who exhibits superb potential. The award was established by Dr. E. James Potchen, MSU Professor of Radiology, and is given annually in honor of Mrs. Potchen.

2026 Recipient: Leah Clark 

Jens Plum Award

The Jens Plum Award, established by Nancy Plum in memory of her husband, Jens Plum, is presented to a junior or senior Studio Art major whose work reveals special artistic insight through the act or process of drawing.

2026 Recipients: Amanda Roberts, Evan Yalowitz

Anna E. Bayha Award

Awarded by Apparel and Textile Design faculty, the Anna E. Bayha Award is presented to a student who, at the close of their junior year, has shown unusual ability in the field of clothing, displayed a high scholastic standing, and demonstrated to be partially or wholly self-supporting.

2026 Recipient:  Kathleen Loria

Anna Creekmore Award

The Anna Creekmore Award is given to a graduating Apparel and Textile Design senior who has demonstrated creativity, outstanding scholastic achievement, and professional potential.

2026 Recipient: Reagan Wiley

Ellen B. Judson Award

The Ellen B. Judson Award is presented to the Apparel and Textile Design student attaining the best and highest standing in clothing courses at the close of their sophomore year.

2026 Recipient: Casey Klau

Fogg Excellence in Ceramics Award

​The Fogg Excellence in Ceramics Award is given annually to advanced students excelling in Ceramics coursework.  

2026 Recipient: Ashley Romps, Kelsey Smith, Amanda Roberts, Hunter Thomas

Fogg Emerging Ceramics Award

The Fogg Emerging Ceramics Award is given annually to a student excelling in their beginning Ceramics coursework and showing great potential for the future. 
2026 Recipients: Megan Rode, Shelly Beach

Carolyn J. Hook Scholarship

The Carolyn J. Hook Scholarship recognizes students who are doing outstanding work in the area of ceramics.

2026 Recipient: Ourania Alexopoulos

Ralf Henricksen Award

The Ralf Henricksen Award is given to a graduating Studio Art major whose focus is in painting and whose work is deemed to be the most successful among their peers in their final year of study. The award was established by Mr. and Mrs. Coey in memory of Mrs. Coey’s father Ralf Henrickson.​

2026 Recipient: Keir Thomas

Gretel Geist Rutledge Award

The Gretel Geist Rutledge Award recognizes students who are producing outstanding work through printmaking. This award aims to encourage students to continue their passion for print.

2026 Recipient: Nikki Smith

Susan J. Bandes Scholarship

​Dr. Susan J. Bandes, Professor Emeritus of Art History in the Department of Art, Art History and Design, established this endowment to benefit students studying Museum Studies and Art History.  Dr. Bandes began her career at MSU as director and curator of the Kresge Art Museum in 1986, serving as Art History faculty and contributing significantly to the development and direction of Museum Studies. The Bandes Scholarship provides funds to Art History students seeking professional development through internships, conference attendance, research and travel.

2026 Recipient: MJ Monteiro

Photograph of recipients of AAHD Awards and Juror’s Choice exhibition awards taken at the 2026 Undergraduate Exhibition reception and awards ceremony at (SCENE) Metrospace on April 10, 2026.

College of Arts and Letters AAHD Awardees

Alexis Alore, Art Education, CAL Education Abroad Scholarship, Workman Scholarship for Study Abroad

Jake Barnes, Graphic Design, Alumni Endowed Book Scholarship, The Nora Sager Stackhouse Endowed Scholarship in Arts and Letters

Emerson Bogacki, Art Education, Arts & Letters Alumni Endowed Scholarship, CAL Education Abroad Scholarship

Jazmyn Brown, Graphic Design, The Audrey and John Leslie Endowed Scholarship in Arts and Letters, Lowe Detroit Endowed Scholarship

Yalitzy Campbell, Apparel and Textile Design, CAL Education Abroad Scholarship

Madelyn Corgan, Studio Art, Alumni Endowed Book Scholarship, Marian Lee Aylesworth Award

Cáijá Hammerström, Art History, Studio Art, Arts & Letters Alumni Endowed Scholarship

Kerina Jauregui, Graphic Design, CAL Education Abroad Scholarship

Sierra Lamphier, Art Education, CAL Education Abroad Scholarship

Kathleen Loria, Apparel and Textile Design, Arts & Letters Alumni Endowed Scholarship

Myles McClary, Apparel and Textile Design, CAL Education Abroad Scholarship

Mira Mitchell, Graphic Design,CAL Education Abroad Scholarship

Ari Mullett, Art Education, Alumni Endowed Book Scholarship, College of Arts & Letters Endowed Scholarship for Study Abroad

Henna Nellis, Graphic Design, CAL Education Abroad Scholarship

Nicky Purton, Apparel and Textile Design, CAL Education Abroad Scholarship, College of Arts & Letters Endowed Scholarship for Study Abroad

Elizabeth Rheaume, Graphic Design, CAL Education Abroad Scholarship

Megan Rode, Art Education,Grand Hotel Endowed Scholarship

Rico Seatts, Apparel and Textile Design, Grand Hotel Endowed Scholarship

Kaity Silengo, Studio Art, CAL Education Abroad Scholarship

Kelsey Smith, Art Education, Alumni Endowed Book Scholarship

Morgan Smith, Art History, CAL Education Abroad Scholarship

Lillian Stauffer, Art History, CAL Education Abroad Scholarship

Keir Thomas, Studio Art, Louis B. Sudler Prize in the Arts

Holly VandenBussche, Apparel and Textile Design, Grand Hotel Endowed Scholarship

Natalie Watson, Studio Art, The Audrey and John Leslie Endowed Scholarship in Arts and Letters

Caleb Xiang, Art History, The Nora Sager Stackhouse Endowed Scholarship in Arts and Letters, CAL Education Abroad Scholarship