Laura Kohler of the Kohler Foundation presents PHS senior Maisy Sternhagen with a $90,000 Ruth DeYoung Kohler Scholarship for Artistic Excellence and Anna Depping-Herzog with a $40,000 Ruth DeYoung Kohler Merit in the Arts Award (as well as Nicholas Shircel with a Herbert V. Kohler Leadership Award) during the school’s annual Awards Night on May 17.
Posted May 22, 2023
Plymouth High School visual art students have been drawing a lot of attention – and scholarship money – in recent years.
“The biggest reason is that they are supported and encouraged to go after it,” said PHS art teacher Ryan Krippendorf. “We have raised a standard for academic as well as artistic excellence in the visual art program at PHS.”
The current wave of art awards began in 2021 when Elliot Straub was awarded a $68,000 Columbia College Chicago Dean’s Scholarship and a $50,000 Ruth DeYoung Kohler Foundation Scholarship for Artistic Excellence, and Jamie Hansen was awarded a $92,000 Otis College of Art & Design Merit Scholarship and a $5,000 Kohler Merit Scholarship.
In the past three years, PHS seniors have been offered more than $1.8 million in art scholarships; many have received significant awards from multiple schools.
“I couldn't be more proud of them,” Mr. Krippendorf said. “Success grows success, and without these young artists paving the way, others wouldn't believe it is possible.”
That was the case for 2022 grad Allison Schwartz, who had been considering a career in acupuncture but then watched her friend Elliot Strub land big art scholarships. Miss Schwartz started making art for her family pop-up shop during the summer of 2021, which gave her lots of practice. She took her first PHS art class during second semester of her senior year, and began to think seriously about a career in art. “I don’t think I can be happy with anything else,” she realized.
She ended up with significant offers to the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design and to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, choosing the latter institution. The offer of a $71,400 scholarship made that possible. “I thought, maybe I can actually go here,” she recalled. “SAIC is really expensive, even with a scholarship. But this could actually happen.”
Miss Schwartz is working towards a bachelor of fine arts, majoring in drawing and painting. After graduation she might look for a position at an art museum, but her dream job is to freelance for galleries, commissions, etc.
She encouraged other students to consider a career in the arts. “I’m a huge advocate for listening to yourself. If it feels right, do it,” she said. “Don’t be scared at the price. Art school is expensive. But there’s no replacement for being in that environment.”
2021 grad Jamie Hansen, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in game and entertainment design at the Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles, recommended applying for as many scholarships as possible, even small ones. “It's a competitive industry so be prepared, but as scary as that sounds you will meet a lot of people, like peers and teachers, along the way who will help and encourage you,” she said. “As a visual artist sketch, sketch, sketch! Sketch ideas, practice life drawing and perspective, all of that.”
Miss Hansen also stressed the importance of networking. “As an artist, visual artist especially, being connected is everything,” she said. “And not just with professionals and professors but also with your peers; these connections could save you one day. It's a tight-knit community, so eventually knowing a friend of a friend could land you an opportunity.”
Mr. Krippendorf also had advice for underclassmen considering a visual art career. “If you are the kid like I was sitting in class, not paying attention like you should be, and doodling away, start paying attention,” he said. “If you want to draw, design, make movie props, or just do something involved in the arts, it is possible.”
He invited young art students – and everyone else! – to see artworks created by members of the Class of 2023 by attending the 2023 PHS Senior Art Show, set for 4-6 p.m. Wednesday May 24 in and around the PHS Art Room.
Learn more:
• Read an article about the PHS Senior Art Show on May 24.
• Read an article about the all of the scholarships awarded to the PHS Class of 2023.
• Explore The Arts section of our interactive, award-winning District Report Card to learn more about how our arts programs are recognized as among the best in the state.
Jamie Hansen, Class of 2021: $92,000 Otis College of Art & Design Merit Scholarship; $5,000 Kohler Merit Scholarship
Elliot Straub, Class of 2021: $68,000 Columbia College Chicago Dean’s Scholarship, $50,000 Ruth DeYoung Kohler Foundation Scholarship for Artistic Excellence, $3,000 Jean Lammers Schwiesow Scholarship
Ashleigh Brown, Class of 2022: $60,000 Merit Scholarship Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design, $10,000 MIAD Portfolio Scholarship
Allison Schwartz, Class of 2022: $71,400 School of the Art Institute of Chicago Merit Scholarship; $65,000 Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design Merit Scholarship; $3,000 Plymouth Education Foundation Art Education Scholarship
Anna Depping-Herzog, Class of 2023: $104,000 School of the Art Institute of Chicago Merit Scholarship; $92,000 Butler University Merit Scholarship for Art Administration and English; $44,864 UW-Madison scholarship for art history; $40,000 Ruth DeYoung Kohler Merit in the Arts Award
Quintessa O’Toole, Class of 2023: $62,475 per year St. Olaf scholarship for fine arts; $64,000 Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design Merit Scholarship; $64,000 School of the Art Institute of Chicago Merit Scholarship; $50,000 Art Academy of Cincinnati Scholarship; $40,000 Loyola University Chicago Merit Scholarship; $12,444 University of Cincinnati Merit Scholarship; $10,000 Otis College of Art & Design Merit Scholarship; $1,000 UW-Milwaukee Merit Scholarship
Ella Ringel, Class of 2023: $72,000 Mount Mary University Merit Scholarship to study art therapy; $72,000 Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design Merit Scholarship, $10,000 MIAD Portfolio Scholarship
Austin Schwartz, Class of 2023: $64,000 Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design Merit Scholarship, $10,000 MIAD Portfolio Scholarship
Maisy Sternhagen, Class of 2023: $88,000 Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design Merit Scholarship, $10,000 MIAD Portfolio Scholarship, $4,000 MIAD room and board dorm scholarship; $90,000 Ruth DeYoung Kohler Scholarship for Artistic Excellence; $88,000 Eckeard University Scholarship; $1,000 PHS Fine Arts Booster Club Scholarship
Hannah Wettstein, Class of 2023: $72,000 Edgewood College Merit Scholarship to study art therapy, $4,000 Edgewood College Aspiring Fine Arts Scholarship, $1,000 Edgewood Visual Arts Scholarship; $72,000 Mount Mary College Merit Scholarship to study art therapy; $60,000 Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design Merit Scholarship
Scarlet Zelmer, Class of 2023: $60,000 Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design Merit Scholarship
