Arts NC State Recognizes 2023-2024 Prestigious Student Artist Awardees

Arts NC State is pleased to recognize the winners of the prestigious student art awards from the 2023-2024 school year. According to Amy Sawyers-Williams who manages the awards in her role in arts outreach and engagement, “These awards are unique to NC State, as they recognize excellence across both the visual and performing arts. They celebrate exceptional creative works and performances and are open to all students, regardless of major, since any student can join an ensemble or submit work to the Student Art Program.” Remarkably, out of the 12 awardees, nine were STEM majors — including aerospace engineers and plant biologists — while four had design-focused backgrounds, and four were graduate students.

The Creative Artist Award recognizes NC State students who have created outstanding original works in music, dance and theatre. The winners are selected by a committee of Arts NC State music, dance and theatre faculty who review submissions of original work. The winners receive a cash prize and their selected works are performed and/or workshopped in the following academic year by the corresponding Arts NC State program. 

You can view the most recent award winning dance pieces at the upcoming Department of Performing Arts and Technology fall Dance Concert on November 21 or 22, 2024. 

The Performing Artist Awards honor exemplary student performers in music, dance and theatre who are chosen directly by NC State faculty and staff in each performing arts area. The winners receive a cash prize, along with recognition of their hard work in a news story. 

The Visual Artist Award honors an exceptional work of art in the 2D, 3D, and digital categories that were submitted in the Student Art Sale. The winners are chosen by a judge, along with input from a panel of Arts NC State employees and students. The winners receive a cash prize in addition to their works being purchased by Arts NC State to hang in a major display case in Talley Student Union, as well as reside in the permanent collection. 

The 2024 Visual Artist Award judge was Jean Gray Mohs, who has local and national acclaim. “Judging the Arts NC State awards was a pleasure, as each student’s work showcased skill and creativity in ways that inspired,” said Mohs. “Award programs like these are invaluable in building confidence for artists, giving a taste of life after school, and offering a platform for their growth.”

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Upcoming Deadlines:

• The deadline for applying for the Theatre Creative Artist Awards is Friday, Nov. 1, at 11:59 p.m. EST. To apply visit go.ncsu.edu/artawards
• The deadline for applying for the Music and Dance Creative Artist Awards is Saturday, March 15, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. EST. For more information visit go.ncsu.edu/artawards 
• The deadline for the Visual Artist Awards corresponds with the application for the Student Art Sale, which is due Friday, April 4, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. EST. For more information visit go.ncsu.edu/studentart. 

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2023-2024 Creative Artist Awards

Creative Artist Award, Dance

Kara Pawlowski 

Kara Pawlowski is currently studying biochemistry with a minor in dance performance and choreography. She has been dancing since she was twelve years old and is entering her third year of choreographing for NC State Dance. Kara hopes to have a future in freelance choreography or working with a company. This is Kara’s second year winning the Creative Artist Award. She won for her piece, Indefinitely Unrequited. In 2022, she won for her original work, More than a Woman. She expresses her gratitude to State Dance Company director Tara Mullins for continually encouraging her to be the best artist she can be. 

Creative Artist Award, Dance

Layla El-Kahoury

Layla El-Khoury was selected for the Creative Artist Award in dance. Layla is a PhD candidate in the Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department and member of the State Dance Company since 2021. She won the prestigious “Dance your PhD” in the Physics Category in 2024. The American Society for Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) named Layla El-Khoury, the 2023 recipient of the Robert E. Stewart Engineering Humanities Award for her choreographed piece titled “Force of Flows.” She has been dancing since she was three and choreographing since 2016.

Creative Artist Award, Music

Tyler Johnson

Tyler Johnson, a 17-year-old from Wake Forest, is currently pursuing a Master’s in Computer Science at NCSU. With over nine years of experience playing the piano and an equal length of time spent composing, Tyler is honored to receive the Creative Artist Award in Music for his piano duet, Insomnia. Composing has always been a major passion, and he hopes to continue practicing it into his dream career in video game development. Tyler extends his deepest gratitude to his parents for their support and to his piano teacher, Mrs. Melba White, and her son, David White, for their guidance and inspiration.

Performing Artist Award, Music/Piano

Sam Prochnau

Sam Prochnau is a junior majoring in aerospace engineering with a minor in piano performance. Sam began taking private piano lessons at the age of 6 with Irene Fix, and since coming to NC State, has studied under Dr. Olga Kleiankina. Here at NC State, he has performed in 5 masterclasses with distinguished professors from around the country, performed numerous recitals, and has accompanied various vocalists and ensembles. Sam would like to especially thank Dr. Kleiankina for nominating him for this award, for her continuous support and guidance, and for investing so much into his success as an artist.

Performing Artist Award, Dance

Kloe Tucker

Kloe Tucker is a junior studying Fashion Product Design in the Wilson College of Textiles. In addition to her studies, she is a second-year member of the State Dance Company. Having danced since the age of three, Kloe hopes to continue in the dance industry after graduating. She extends her utmost gratitude to Tara Mullins and the Department of Performing Arts & Technology for this award.

Performing Artist Award, Music/Instrument

Garret Hitmar

Garret Hitmar is a graduate of the College of Design with a Bachelor of Industrial Design and a minor in Music Performance. He has been playing saxophone since age 12, with piano even earlier, beginning at age 5. While always passionate about music, Garret’s time at NC State deepened his love for jazz, thanks to numerous opportunities to collaborate within the music community. Playing this improvisational music with others brings him immense joy, and he plans to continue playing throughout his life at the highest capacity possible. Garret extends his heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Wes Parker and Keenan McKenzie for their guidance, support, and dedication to his growth. He also wishes to acknowledge the dedication of everyone who shared the stage with him in the jazz orchestra and other ensembles, for their commitment to this music and to growing together musically.

Performing Artist Award, Music/Voice

Andrei Dylan Magistrado

Andrei Dylan Magistrado is a recent graduate, majoring in Mathematics with a minor in Military Studies: Aerospace Studies. Over the past four years, he participated in choir every semester at NC State, driven by a deep passion for music. Moving forward, he plans to continue singing in community and professional choirs. Andrei extends heartfelt thanks to his choir director, Dr. Nathan Leaf, whose guidance and shared music-making made his experience at NC State truly memorable.

Performing Artist Award, Theatre

Jackson Lods

Jackson Lods is a recent graduate in Chemical Engineering who has been passionate about theater since his role as a soldier in Mulan Jr. back in fifth grade. Throughout college, he performed in eight University Theatre productions and is deeply grateful for the supportive community he found there. Jackson extends his thanks to his directors, Mia Self and Danica Jackson, for their openness, feedback and dedication to helping him grow as a performer.

Performing Artist Award, Dance

Joshua Dodoo

Joshua Dodoo is an Applied Mathematics major at NC State, with a minor in Dance and Performing Arts. With five years of dance experience, he joined the Panoramic Dance Project to continue pursuing his passion. Through this program, Joshua has had the opportunity to perform in both fall and spring dance concerts, earning the Performing Artist Award. He hopes to continue dancing in the future and extends his gratitude to his company director, Christa Oliver, his fellow company members and everyone in the NC State Arts department for their guidance and support, welcoming him into the NC State dance community.

Performing Artist Award, Dance

Paul Randolph

Paul Randolph is a graduate student at NC State, currently pursuing a master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering after completing a Bachelor of Science at NC State with several minors, including Dance. He is also a Goodnight Scholar. Paul has been dancing for as long as he can remember, beginning formal training at age 10. His true passion for dance emerged when he took his first modern dance class at 13. During his graduate studies, Paul plans to be an active company member with the Terrain Dance Project and may also teach modern dance at his home studio. He extends his heartfelt gratitude to the faculty in the dance program, for making the dance minor one of the most fulfilling experiences of his academic journey.

Visual Artist Award, 2D Category

Sean Evans

Sean Evans is a junior studying Graphic & Experience Design and has been creating art for as long as he can remember. Inspired by the works of CJ Hendry, Sean focuses on large-scale, realistic colored pencil pieces that balance simplicity in subject matter with complexity in detail and form. Recently awarded the Visual Artist Award, he gained invaluable exposure and support to invest in his artistic journey. Currently, he is working on a new collection titled “At Rest,” where he explores and draws iconic chairs. Sean’s work can be viewed on his Instagram at @seanmichael.png.

According to the Visual Artist Award judge, Jean Gray Mohs, “Sean Michael’s skilled hand shows a lovely restraint in this minimal drawing of a ribbon. The simplicity and depth really draws the viewer’s eye in. The precise shading combined with the fine detail in the fray of ribbon gives a sense of the artist’s trained eye.”

Visual Artist Award, 3D Category

Erin Emott

Erin is a second year PhD student in the Plant and Microbial Biology Department, studying fire ecology and stand dynamics in the longleaf pine ecosystem. Outside of school and research, she spends much of her free time making pottery in the NCSU Crafts Center. She won the Visual Artist Award for her ceramic mug, Skelly. 

She says that winning this award was validating for her, and helped her own the title of Artist, after years feeling ‘less-than’ an artist because it’s a part-time passion, her work is almost exclusively functional, and she never went to art school.

According to the Visual Artist Award judge, Jean Gray Mohs “Erin’s well-made mug delightfully straddles function and design. The raw clay contrasted with the matte glaze skeleton mimicking the hand is a wonderful touch. This piece is balanced, expertly crafted, and its imagery crisp.” 
Recently, she’s started vending at local markets, and she’d be thrilled to say hello if you see her out and about! You can check out her recent work or see where to find her at events on her Instagram, @esquared.pottery, or email her at esquared.pottery@gmail.com.

Visual Artist Award, Digital Category

Jack E. McKissock

Jack McKissock is an artist from Pisgah Forest, NC. He is a sophomore majoring in graphic design and new media. His interests include gaming illustration, character creation, and portraiture. His work includes drawings, oil painting, and digital painting. Currently, he is doing commission work focusing on portraits, album cover design, and live modeling sketches. He looks forward to expanding his range of work and studying art abroad his junior year. 

Jack E. McKissock won the Visual Artist Award in the Digital category for his piece, Sahbabii. 

According to the Visual Artist Award judge, Jean Gray Mohs, “A modernized John Singer Sargent, Jack has created quite the narrative in this piece. The color story combined with the posture of the figure, detail work, and expression begs us to ask questions about the piece.  Through his use of shading and layering, Jack’s skill really shines through.” Jack’s work may be viewed at https://www.artstation.com/jackmckissock or @jackmckissock on Instagram.