American InterContinental University Trounces the Competition In a Houston Fund Raising Event
November 27, 2007
Head-to-Head Art Competition Between AIU and the Art Institute
November 27, 2007 – Houston, TX – Students from American InterContinental University's Visual Communications program at the school's Houston campus handily outclassed the competition by walking away with seven of the art and design contest's top ten awards. The competition directly pitted AIU Houston against the Art Institute of Houston and, not only did AIU trounce its competitor by taking seven out of the top ten prizes, it also won every award for outstanding artwork from first through fourth place.
The contest accepted 20 works of art, 10 from each school, representing the best that each institution had to offer. According to the contest's rules, each student’s artwork had to be original, inspirational, imaginative, and conceptually sound. The event was held at the Renaissance Hotel, Greenway Plaza and was created to raise funds for Houston's GLBT Community Center and the Darla School of Mentally Retarded Adults. Of course, the two schools hoped to showcase the capabilities of their respective art programs.
Faculty members at American InterContinental University and at the Art Institute each selected 10 works of art that represented the best efforts of students in their programs. Then a panel of industry professionals judged the 20 entries to determine the winners.
THE WINNERS
1st place, Tenya Yeh (AIU), 1.7 Baby Girls, Digital Media
2nd place, Linah Tul-Jamil (AIU), Amelie, Oil-Based Inks and Digital Media
3rd place, Amelia Avalos (AIU), Moulin Rouge, 35mm Ilford HP5 Plus 400 B&W film
4th place, Laura Valdez (AIU), Dreams vs Reality, Mixed Media
Honorable Mention, Debra Benson (AIU), It's a PeRsOnal Issue, Digital Media
Honorable Mention, Christopher Sisney (AIU), Mending Torn Hearts, Digital Media
Honorable Mention, Mary Anne Pennington (AIU), Reflection, 35mm Ilford HP5 Plus 400 B&W film
Recognition, David Burns, Teamgeist, Digital Media
Recognition, Joseph Walker, Art Punk, Digital Media
Recognition, Brenda Beltran, Seurat Poster, Digital Media
Nicole Bent, Chair of AIU's Visual Communications department in Houston, expressed satisfaction with the event. "The evening's outcome is an affirmation of what we at AIU have known for a very long time. At a university that utilizes industry-current technology, and with the guidance of a dedicated faculty, students who are willing to work hard can, and will, rise to the top. This charity event was a student competition, but it foreshadows a promising professional future for many of these student-artists."
Several of the works were sold at a private auction held in conjunction with the contest. The remaining works of art are now the property of Houston’s GLBT Community Center and the Darla School of Mentally Retarded Adults. For more information about American InterContinental University, visit www.aiuniv.edu. For additional information about AIU's Houston campus, please visit http://houston.aiuniv.edu.
About American InterContinental University
Established in Europe in 1970, American InterContinental University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award Associate-level, Bachelor’s, and Master’s degrees. This umbrella accreditation includes the following branch campuses of the University: AIU Los Angeles, AIU Buckhead (GA); AIU Dunwoody (GA); AIU South Florida; AIU London, England; AIU Houston; AIU Online (originating in Illinois); and the American University in Dubai. For additional information, please visit www.aiuniv.edu.
CONTACT
Jo Aragon, MBA
Director of Marketing and Education Partners
American InterContinental University-Houston
phone: (832) 201-6896
email: jaragon@houston.aiuniv.edu