University News

WIU College of Fine Arts and Communication Presenting Young Artist Awards to 13 Illinois Arts Students

March 20, 2023

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MACOMB, IL – The Western Illinois University College of Fine Arts and Communication will present 13 Illinois high school arts students with the inaugural COFAC Young Artist Awards Thursday, April 6.

The COFAC Young Artist Awards is an initiative that recognizes, celebrates and recruits the best high school junior talent in the Arts within the state of Illinois. Students submit portfolios of their work for screening. Their work is then adjudicated by the faculty of the college and winners are invited to campus for a day of celebration and VIP treatment.

Students will have a full day of tours, one-on-one appointments with faculty, additional facility tours, with a culminating ceremony where each student will be recognized and receive a plaque, a personal letter from the COFAC dean, and a commissioned custom print from the Visual Arts department.

The 2022-2023 COFAC Young Artist Awards Winners are include:

• Evan Epps, Chicago, Intrinsic Schools, Theatre, Acting
• Jack Zhou, Naperville, IL, Neuqua Valley High School, Visual Art
• Jerry Zhou, Naperville, IL, Neuqua Valley High School, Visual Art
• Benjamin Pluta, Des Plaines, IL, Maine West High School, Journalism
• Niryajah Johnson, Chicago, Mansueto High School, Music Composition
• Abigail Martin, Chatham, IL, Glenwood High School, Music (Clarinet)
• Leah Renollet, Normal, IL, Normal Community West High School, Music (Trumpet)
• Akshar Barot, Rock Falls, IL, Rock Falls Township High School Music (Flute)
• Paulina Kosierkiewicz, Mount Vernon, IL, Mount Vernon High School Music (Piano)
• Caitlyn Kopera, Crystal Lake, IL, Crystal Lake South High School, Theatre (Tech/Design)
• Hailee Mayle, Peoria, IL, Limestone Community High School, Visual Art
• Madelyn Kress, Rock Island, IL, Rock Island High School, Visual Art
• Janet Larios, Chicago, Itw David Speer Academy, Visual Art.

WIU Assistant Professor of Music and Inaugural C.T. Vivian Diversity Teaching Scholar Alfonzo Cooper, Jr. developed and created The COFAC Young Artist Awards. The college is excited to welcome these Scholar-Artists to campus.

The COFAC Young Artist Awards was made possible by the sponsorship of Western Illinois College of Fine Arts and Communications and the Performing Arts Society.



Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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