Erin Hatfield from New Castle Named to Indiana State Art Board

HUNTINGTON, IN (11/22/2011)(readMedia)-- Sophomore Erin Hatfield from New Castle, Ind., and a Huntington University art education student was recently honored to represent the university on the 2012 Art Education Association of Indiana Executive Board. This is an honor awarded to one chapter in the state each year, and it is the first time HU has been the recipient.

Hatfield will serve alongside Freshman Paul Monroe from Travis Air Force Base in California. They will take part in state art education meetings and a summer retreat. In addition, they will plan the college student portion of next year's AEAI state conference in Columbus, Ind.

"I am eager and honored to be voted in as a representative to sit on the AEAI Executive Council," Monroe said. "Erin Hatfield and I both have ideas and fresh perspectives to bring to the executive council, and I'm thrilled to be a part of the process."

Four years ago, HU art education majors created a student chapter of the National Art Education Association. Founded in 1947, the NAEA is the world's largest professional art education association and a leader in educational research, policy and practice for art education.

"This year's group has worked very hard. The members will make awesome art teachers," said Barb Michel, instructor of art at HU. "I am excited that our art education majors will have a voice at the state level."

Since its creation, the HU chapter has grown in numbers, commitment to the profession and activity level. This semester alone the group hosted a booth at the Roanoke Arts Festival, attended the fall Art Education Association of Indiana conference in Indianapolis, brought in a guest speaker to share job finding skills and held regular business meetings. Many of the members also teach private art lessons to children in the Huntington area.

"It's a great time to be an art education major at HU," said chapter officer and sophomore Trevor Bortz from Clarks Mills, Pa. "The art education program is doing what it should to prepare us to be great art teachers."

A photo of Monroe and Hatfield is available online at http://www.huntington.edu/News-Releases/Academics/Art/Huntington-University-students-named-to-state-art-board/. Click on the photo to open and download the high-resolution image.

Huntington University is a comprehensive Christian college of the liberal arts offering graduate and undergraduate programs in more than 70 academic concentrations. U.S. News & World Report ranks Huntington among the best colleges in the Midwest, and Forbes.com has listed the university as one of America's Best Colleges. Additionally, Princeton Review has named the institution to its "Best in the Midwest" list. Founded in 1897 by the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, Huntington University is located on a contemporary, lakeside campus in northeast Indiana. The university is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU).

For text of this and all Huntington University news releases, visit www.huntington.edu/news.