SFA senior art major Typhanie Shepherd of Lufkin, left, has been awarded this year’s William Arscott Art Scholarship by the Friends of the Visual Arts at SFA. With Shepherd are Christopher Talbot, director of the SFA School of Art, and Crystal Hicks, FVA president.
Jeff Brewer, former assistant professor of sculpture, nominated Shepherd for the scholarship. In his nomination letter, he wrote: “I have had the pleasure of knowing, teaching and mentoring Typhanie for the last three years. She is a talented student, budding young artist and all around wonderful human being.”
Brewer went on to describe Shepherd as “a brilliant student with an inquisitive nature and a drive to succeed.”
“The enthusiasm and wit she brings to the classroom are contagious, and I am grateful to be part of it,” he wrote. “Her desire to learn and try new things is a joy to witness. Her explorations into plastic casting, welding, installation and puppetry, along with her genuine love of film and learning, mixes with her curiosity, sense of humor and painstakingly detail-oriented work ethic to make her a perfect match for the Arscott Scholarship.
“I have seen firsthand the dedication and diligence Typhanie brings to the classroom, and I look forward to watching her grow as an artist, filmmaker and a person,” he said.
The FVA awards the Arscott Scholarship annually to one SFA art student to aid them in furthering their educational and professional goals in the field of art. Arscott is the senior member of the art faculty and has worked in many artistic fields, including painting, ceramics, printmaking, sculpture and cinematography. In 1980, he established the cinematography program for the School of Art. Distinguished as both an artist and educator, Arscott has been recognized and awarded many honors, including Texas Senate Resolution No. 514, Outstanding Educator of America, Alumni Distinguished Professor and Regents Professor.
The FVA has established several scholarships in the name of retiring SFA School of Art professors who were employed in the School of Art for a minimum of 10 years before retirement and who contributed in a significant way to the mission of the Friends of the Visual Arts board and its fundraising activities. In this instance, Arscott is still working at the university after more than 55 years of teaching there and is SFA’s longest-tenured faculty member. FVA scholarship committee members unanimously decided they wanted to honor Arscott now, prior to his retirement.
