Eight Cazenovia College students were inducted into Kappa Pi, the International Art Honor Society, in a ceremony recently. The inductees and their majors are:
- Yesica Bernal Pedroza, from Landenberg, Penn., Interior Design
- Lillian Collignon, of Newport, New York, Studio Art
- Abigail Decker, of Buskirk, New York, Interior Design
- Lily Demyen, of West Babylon, New York, Studio Art
- Jess Kane, of Syracuse, New York, Studio Art
- Ava Lee, of Deposit, New York, Visual Communications/Interactive Design
- Rachel McAndrew, of Jamesville, New York, Studio Art
- Jessica Monaghan, of Carthage, New York, Photography
Anita Welych, professor of art and program director for the College’s Studio Art program, said at the induction ceremony that the newly inducted members all excel as artists and academics, and that they are active and contributing members of the college community.
“I think of the words of writer Emile Zola,” she told the inductees: ‘If you ask me what I came to do in this world, I, an artist, will answer you: I am here to live out loud.’” She added that the inductees “all live out loud each and every day.”
Eligibility in the honor society is based on academic performance criteria. Students must have a GPA of over 3.3 (B+) overall, and in their Studio Art/Fine Arts courses, must maintain a 3.5 GPA.
Kappa Pi began 110 years ago as a group of students who wanted to discuss and critique their personal artwork, and it is now the oldest Honorary Art Fraternity, the organization says. For the past century, it has offered thousands of art students and professionals a group to call home and opportunities for excursions, lectures, exhibitions, and companionship. Acceptance into Kappa Pi is based on academic achievement and artistic excellence.