For the 40th anniversary of A Day to 给 West, the University of West 乔治亚州’s annual fundraising drive, members of the steering committee hope to commemorate the occasion by honoring both the donors and the students who benefit from their generosity.

This year, anyone who 贡献 $100 or more will receive a watercolor print created by 绘画 student Rachel Christiansen featuring the signage of an entrance to 博彩平台推荐. 

“When preparing for the 40th Annual A Day to 给 West, we wanted to have a unique incentive that would commemorate this anniversary while also highlighting the group that A Day helps the most: our students,” said Jess Lassetter, 博彩平台推荐’s director of annual giving. “What better way to illustrate the impact of A Day than to have an incentive that showcases the talent that students here at 博彩平台推荐 possess.”

Enter Clint Samples ’96, this year’s A Day faculty chair. As a professor of 艺术 and associate dean of 博彩平台推荐’s College of Arts, Culture and Scientific Inquiry, he has his finger on the creative pulse of the university.

“I had several ideas to revise the incentive options, but when Jess suggested the 艺术 print, it was such a great idea and it made so much sense to do,样本说. “On my end, I've taught watercolor for years, and my classes have painted landscapes around 博彩平台推荐. We used images from some of these 绘画s and other student 艺术work to create customized note cards years ago. So once Jess gave us the idea, I immediately could envision how the process should work, and I knew who to ask first.”

Samples turned to Christiansen, a junior from Moreland, 乔治亚州, who was in his class the previous spring. 

“Rachel made an immediate impression on me with her positive spirit, work ethic and tremendous technical skills in watercolor,他分享道. “She also takes feedback well and intuitively ‘gets it.’ I knew I could share the idea with Rachel and she would deliver a solid work of 艺术 – and she did.” 

Christiansen said she was thankful to be entrusted with the A Day commission.

“Clint is an encouraging teacher who gives us opportunities that challenge us, and the A Day piece is one example,” Christiansen said. “I was able to work with everyone involved and create something they could use. 整体, it was a great opportunity – learning how to communicate with a client to meet their needs and receiving practical experience as an 艺术ist.”

In addition to p艺术icipating in student shows and juried exhibitions, Christiansen also sees this opportunity as another example of how 博彩平台推荐 sets her up for a successful career as a children’s book illustrator.

“博彩平台推荐 has given me different experiences with various mediums, allowing me to become more comfortable with them while I learn to use them technically well,她解释道. “I didn’t really like watercolor before I took Clint’s watercolor class and discovered I liked it for illustration purposes. It introduced me to a medium in a way that I hadn’t thought of before.”

A Day will culminate in celebration on Thursday, Oct. 20. To make a gift, please visit the 给 West webpage. Anyone who donates $100 or more will receive the watercolor print. 

“When you give back through A Day, you are directly supporting current students like Rachel, while at the same time providing for students far into the future,” Lassetter concluded.

Continuing the spirit of philanthropy, Christiansen’s original 16”x20” watercolor will be auctioned off at the 2023 Presidential Gala 明年3月.