Ricky Bodner '13 Wins National Art Award

Thirteen students from University School received awards at the Cleveland Institute of Art's first annual 2D-3D National Art and Design Competition for high school students. Over 850 entries were received from around the country and were judged by a panel of faculty members of the Cleveland Institute of Art. Best of category awards were announced in four areas, including Craft, Design, Visual Arts, and Integrated Media.

University School senior Ricky Bodner was the only student from Ohio to win the best of category award in Craft for his lathe turned maple, holly, walnut, ebony, and stainless steel lidded bowl. The three other winners reside in Florida, Pennsylvania, and Texas.

Each of the category winners received a $500 cash award and a $40,000 scholarship if they are admitted to CIA.

"I am honored to have received such a prestigious award and I am excited to know that all my hard work paid off," said Ricky. "This achievement would not have been possible without the continued support of the US art staff. I want to give a special thanks to Mr. Friebertshauser for all of his help teaching me the fundamentals of wood working and helping me reach my fullest potential."

The following US students received honorable mentions:

Jude Gingo- Design, Eco-friendly bus station
Victor Mezacapa - Design, luminaire design
John Hata- Design, luminaire design
Geoffrey Svensson - Design, luminaire design
Chris Lincoln - Design, Shaker table
Andrew Brown - Craft, lathe turned lidded bowl
Andrew Obernesser - Craft, lathe turned vase
Jackson Whitehouse - Craft, lathe turned/carved vase
Hayes McGinley - Craft, lathe turned bowl
Noah Sterling - Craft, lathe turned vase
Taggart Haag - Craft, lathe turned bowl
Charlie Horton - Craft, ceramic vase

"We are very proud of all our students who received recognition in this competition," said Reinhold Friebertshauser, Chairman of the Upper School Art Department, "and we are particularly pleased with the results of this contest, since the jury consisted of a panel of highly skilled practicing artists and art educators. We are grateful that they appreciated our students' work."

CIA's 2D-3D competition was created in 2013 to recognize talented young American artists and encourage them to pursue career paths in art and design.