Contact: Maridith Geuder
For the fourth year in a row, Mississippi State University art students hold "best in show" honors following a recent regional design competition.
The 1999 Communigraphics Design Conference, coordinated by the Memphis (Tenn.) Advertising Federation, drew entries from universities and colleges in Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Kentucky. Of 30 entries accepted for judging, 26 were the works of MSU students.
Receiving four of the five top awards of excellence were seniors Tracey Cooksey of Slidell, La., Ben Couvillion of Starkville, Jane M. Metcalf of Tupelo, and Catherine C. Neill of Leland.
"To be recognized by AAF as best in every single show for four years is a phenomenal report on the excellence of our students and faculty," said art department head Brent Funderburk. "Clearly, Mississippi State's graphic design program can be considered pre-eminent in the region."
The regional competition is part of the American Advertising Federation, a national organization representing 50,000 members.
The art department's graphic design area is headed by Jamie Mixon, whose students also regularly are top winners in USA Today's Collegiate Challenge. In the past five years, MSU students have finished first, second and third in competition sponsored by the national newspaper.
Established in 1968, Mississippi State's art department is home to the largest studio art program in the state. In addition to graphic design, academic training is provided in ceramics, photography, printmaking, painting, and sculpture, as well as graduate studies in computer animation and multimedia.