Previous Scholarship Winners

Hien Nguyen (Kat)

Department of Sculpture + Extended Media

Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts

Hiền is an art student who came from Saigon, Vietnam. However Richmond, VA is her new home. This is the place that adopted her and has held Hiền together in one piece. Being a Sculpture + Extended Media major in VCUarts means the world to her.

Hiền is navigating between different environments. She was born and grew up in Vietnam for 17 years, when she came to the US many things are different. She has tried and even forced herself to catch up with the new flows. Its is an interesting experience and also strong inspiration for her artworks.

Mythology, psychology, history and socio-cultural anthropology are where her research begins. Hiền is interested in objects that encourage participation. In the state of becoming an artist, Hiền deeply committed to process. Personally, she believes in “no pain no gain”. The process of making art to her is important because of its story. The history behind a piece can have more commitment to the artist than the final work. It is the hidden archive.

https://thefaithfulraccoon.wordpress.com/about/

Anna Mitchell

As a violinist and music education major at VCUarts, I could not be happier with my decisions in regards to both major and school. As a freshman music major, I’ve been able to learn all about music theory, experience playing in a rigorous, regularly meeting orchestra for the first time ever (which I love!), learn how to play the piano, improve my own violin skills, and more. I’ve never grown faster as a musician than I have during my time at VCU!

Every day, a new musical opportunity arises, and living in Richmond, there’s always things to do, whether they are related to music or one of my other interests instead. At VCU, I’ve played fun and challenging repertoire in both a large ensemble and solo, joined the American String Teachers Association, helped out with audition days, and even taken prospective music students on tours. I will also be helping in some form with the Menuhin Competition- an incredibly prestigious and intense violin competition that will be coming to Richmond this May (which is only the second time it will have been hosted in the U.S.!) I have also made amazing friends and made valuable connections with both VCU faculty and other music teachers in Virginia.

Outside of VCU’s Department of Music, I am an Honors student at VCU, and when I’m not practicing violin, you can find me practicing calligraphy, writing for the Honors College’s newsmagazine, bullet journaling, or hanging out with my friends and exploring the city of Richmond!