MSU students shine at 2019 Mississippi Collegiate Arts Competition

“Somewhere in Cali,” a drawing by MSU junior art/fine arts major Mecca S. Givens of Richland, was one of two works recognized with a superior achievement award during the 2019 Mississippi Collegiate Arts Competition. (Submitted photo/by Mecca Givens)

Contact: Sasha Steinberg

STARKVILLE, Miss.—��Ƶ’s commitment to high quality visual arts education is evident in the recent 2019 Mississippi Collegiate Arts Competition, where 25 MSU student entries were selected and two students received special awards.

In its 69th year, the MCAC is open to all art students at four-year colleges and universities in the Magnolia State. Representing a variety of artistic media, eligible submissions must have been created within the last year.

Jenny K. Hager, professor of sculpture at the University of North Florida, served as juror for the prestigious art competition hosted by Delta State University. Hager selected more than 100 student-produced works of art that are featured through Feb. 21 in an exhibition at DSU’s Fielding Wright Art Center Gallery.

“Silenced,” a metal work piece by MSU senior art/fine arts major Lexus S. Giles of Brandon, was one of two works recognized with a superior achievement award during the 2019 Mississippi Collegiate Arts Competition. (Submitted photo/by Lexus Giles)

Two MSU students also were recognized with special awards for superior achievements in their respective artistic disciplines. Honorees include senior art/fine arts major Lexus S. Giles of Brandon, for her metal work piece titled “Silenced,” and junior art/fine arts major Mecca S. Givens of Richland, for her drawing titled “Somewhere in Cali.”

In addition to Giles and Givens, MSU’s 2019 MCAC exhibitors include (by hometown):

BAILEY—Amelia G. Dalton, a junior art/graphic design major.

BRANDON—Courtney E. Bates, a junior art/graphic design major; and Darby G. Taylor, a senior art/graphic design and photography major.

CLINTON—Gerald A. Wicks, an art/graphic design bachelor’s graduate.

COCKEYSVILLE, MARYLAND—Hanna R. Bewley, a sophomore art major.

DECATUR, ALABAMA—Anthony M. Adamsky, a senior architecture major.

D’IBERVILLE—Courtney K. Maxon, a senior art/photography major.

FRANKLIN, TENNESSEE—Morgan E. Pearce, a sophomore art major.

HATTIESBURG—Daeja C. Thomas, a senior art/graphic design major.

MADISON—Parker H. Webb, an art/graphic design bachelor’s graduate.

MAYHEW—Robert W. Lewis, a senior art/photography major.

OLIVE BRANCH—Olivia Neelly Plunk, a senior art/graphic design major; and Sarah G. Steen, a junior art major.

STARKVILLE—Jinwon Kim, a senior art/fine arts major; and Alexus M. Milons, a junior art major.

VALRICO, Florida—Colleen E. McInnis, a senior art/photography major.

VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA—April M. Porter, an art/graphic design bachelor’s graduate.

YAZOO CITY—Catherine E. Remington, a senior art/fine arts major.

MSU’s College of Architecture, Art and Design is home to the Magnolia State’s largest undergraduate studio art program. For more on the college and its Department of Art, visit .

MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at .

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