"Excellence is But a Habit": CA's 8th Consecutive Year of Success at SRU's Art Show
As you descend down the vocational wing you eventually pass under the timeless words of the great philosopher Aristotle, "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit".
This morning, those words weigh on my mind as I am delighted to share with all of you that we not only had students once again accepted into the highly competitive SRU Juried Exhibition at the Martha Gault Art Gallery but, for the 8th consecutive year, returned home with an award!
Our very own Milo Fair received the “Slippery Rock University Art Club Award” last night for her piece "Pickle Party".
This exhibition receives on average between 3-600 entries each year, with anywhere from 70-130 works making the cut. Open to over 100 schools in Western PA, around twenty-four made it into this year's show. To be chosen for the juried show is a reward in itself, and this year, LCCTC had four CA students get seven artworks accepted.
It always lifts my soul when I watch students (many who have never been to an art gallery before) enter the space and see their work for the first time on that gallery wall. The smiles of accomplishment, the embrace from proud families who come to show support. What a privilege it has been for me to repeatedly watch the moments when they unexpectedly hear their name called for an award.
Believe it or not, the hardest part is not getting the students to do the work, but instead to have the confidence to enter the show and risk rejection. I think Mr. Rich made a great point with the recent newsletter that the LCCTC is "a culture of achievement and recognition." We provide so many opportunities for our students, and more often than not, they rise to the standards we set and are recognized for their efforts. Those experiences of success and what hard work results in, I believe, carry many of them into the next stages of their lives with a desire to achieve and a courage to take on the sacrifices required for success.
This was evident when I arrived early to the show and was greeted by six LCCTC Alumni currently excelling in their degrees at SRU and the kind remarks of the professors there about our former students and their work ethic and abilities.
I want to thank Mr. Pavia for taking the time to attend the reception last night and to everyone who supports our Art program.
Please join me in congratulating Milo on their award and the 4 students (Milo Fair, Desiree D'Ambrosi, Josh Siegel, and Easton Grable) on being part of this year's exhibition and continuing our habit of excellence!
Thank you,
Mr. DeRosa
