Pearl Pierce Receives Award from HSU's College of Fine Arts

ABILENE, TX (05/22/2013)(readMedia)-- Pearl Pierce of Midland, Texas, received the Kappa Pi Award for outstanding academic achievement at Hardin-Simmons University's College of Fine Arts awards ceremony April 16, 2013. 

Dr. Robert Brooks, dean of the Hardin-Simmons University College of Fine Arts, established the performance and awards ceremony last year to bring together the students studying music, visual arts, and theatre. Separated among three different buildings across the HSU campus, Brooks says the occasion is so all students in all divisions of the College of Fine Arts can see what others students are doing.

Mike Jones, professor of art and visual arts department head, presented the Kappa Pi Award to Pearl Pierce, a sophomore studying for a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Pearl says she wants to be an animator for Pixar, the company behind now classic movies like Toy Story.

Speaking at the ceremony, Brooks told the students that HSU has a responsibility to train them as student-artists and to transform them from a university community of scholars into artist-entrepreneurs. He also charged the students with their mission, to realize social responsibilities as citizens of the arts. "Our Creator God has given you creative, artistic abilities. Now is the time, in this place, you can develop your talents so that you will make a difference in this world in the fine arts," Brooks charged. "Soli Deo Gloria – To God Alone be Glory. So Be It!"

About Hardin-Simmons:

HSU has an enrollment of approximately 2,300 undergrad and graduate students from 29 states and 19 countries. HSU has a 13:1 student faculty ratio with a campus that sits on 220 acres. Eighty percent of HSU's faculty members hold the highest degree in their field.

The university is named by U.S. News and World Report as one of the best universities in the western region of the United States and is listed by The Princeton Review as a Top Ten Best in the West University. It is a member of the Colleges of Distinction, the Chronicle of Higher Education named HSU to its honor roll of Great Colleges to Work For, and G.I. Jobs listed HSU as a Military Friendly School. HSU was also named to the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll.

Seven undergraduate degrees encompass 70 major fields including: athletic training, criminal justice, social work, counseling, sociology, psychology, molecular biology, biochemistry, environmental science, religion, music, art, theatre, teaching, communications, business administration, accounting, and management. Ten graduate degrees, encompassing 26 programs, include the Doctor of Ministry, Doctor of Education in Leadership, and the Doctor of Physical Therapy.

International study programs include England, Austria, Hong Kong, Spain, and Australia.

Hardin-Simmons University, founded in 1891, is a private Christian liberal arts university, and has been affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas (Texas Baptists) since 1941.