Four Sacred Heart University Students Honored by Illustration West 49

FAIRFIELD, CT (01/25/2011)(readMedia)-- Illustrations by four Sacred Heart University Department of Graphic Design & Visual Arts students have been accepted into the Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles. The students are Rachel Bellando and Katherine Connolly of Rockville Center, NY, and Maria Damianou of Monroe, CT. Britt Gardner of Guilford, CT, who graduated in May of 2010, also had a piece accepted.

Bellando and Connolly, both seniors, each had two pieces accepted, while Damianou, a junior, and Gardner had one. The pieces will be shown in the Society's annual nationally juried exhibition West 49, which opens at Gallery Nucleus in Alhambra, CA, on January 21. The pieces will be displayed on the Illustration West 49 Web site for two years.

The Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles was founded in 1953 by a handful of Southern California advertising artists and designers primarily to promote the professional status of illustration art as well as foster both philanthropic and educational goals. From this small beginning, it has grown to a very productive membership whose work is seen by millions each year in all printed media, television, films, on the web and in gallery exhibitions.

Sacred Heart Professor Jack de Graffenried notes that the Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles and the Society of Illustrators of New York are the two most prestigious exhibitions for illustration in the country. Since 2004, 33 illustrations by Sacred Heart students have been accepted into these two nationally juried student competitions.

"It speaks very highly of what our students are doing in terms of illustration. Their talents in this area complement the work they are doing as graphic designers and show future clients and employers that our students are diversified and extremely talented," de Graffenied said. "These kids are competing with illustration programs from around the country and coming out on top. I am extremely proud of our students and of our program."

About Sacred Heart University

Sacred Heart University, the second-largest Catholic university in New England, offers more than 40 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs on its main campus in Fairfield, Connecticut, and satellites in Connecticut, Luxembourg and Ireland. More than 6,000 students attend the University's four colleges: Arts & Sciences; Education & Health Professions; University College; and the AACSB-accredited John F. (Jack) Welch College of Business. The Princeton Review includes SHU in its guides "Best 373 Colleges: 2011," "Best in the Northeast" and "Best 300 Business Schools: 2011." U.S. News & World Report ranks SHU among the best master's universities in the North in its annual "America's Best Colleges" publication. As one of just 23 institutions nationally, SHU is a member of the Association of American Colleges & Universities' (AAC&U) Core Commitments Leadership Consortium, in recognition of its core, "The Human Journey." SHU fields 31 division I athletic teams, and has an award-winning program of community service. www.sacredheart.edu

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