Francesca Fuchs of the University of St. Thomas studio art faculty recently received one of North America’s largest cash awards, the 2005 Hunting Art Prize. Additionally, three students have won significant prizes for their accomplishments.

“UST is justifiably proud of the professional accomplishments of our teaching faculty at the Glassell School,” said Claire M. McDonald, chair of Fine and Performing Arts. “Francesca Fuchs deservedly stands in the limelight now as the recipient of the prestigious Hunting Art Prize. This achievement and those of the entire Glassell School faculty enhance the reputation of our joint UST/Glassell School of Art studio arts major program and allow it to attract phenomenally talented students.”

UST collaborates with the Glassell School of Art, Museum of Fine Arts Houston to offer a major, a minor and elective courses in studio art. This joint effort provides students access to the resources of the Glassell School, including its professional faculty. Conversely, UST provides the Glassell School with highly qualified students.

Carla Novi, senior studio major, won one of the Project Row Houses’ 2006 summer residencies. PRH was established in 1993 on a site of 22 abandoned shotgun houses to connect the work of artists with the revitalization of the Third Ward community. A panel of professional artists reviewed the work of 14 students and selected five to receive studio space in row houses for a two-month residency. A free public showing 4-6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26, at the row houses in the 2500 block of Holman will open an exhibition of works created during the students' residencies.

Nam Nguyen, a pre-med junior in biology and studio arts, won one of eight MFAH summer internships for undergraduates out of 128 applicants. Interns work full-time for 10 weeks from June to August and receive a stipend from the museum. At the end of the summer, the interns will give an oral presentation to museum staff and write a paper on their project.

Cody Ledvina’s painting, Felix with his Music and a Poem about Airplanes, is the featured artwork on the cover of the Glassell School of Art Course Schedule for fall 2006. The work of this ’06 studio arts graduate and now University of Houston master of fine arts graduate student was one of only 90 pieces selected out of over 1,200 submissions. His work was also included in the 2005 Annual Student Art Show at the Glassell. He also had a sculpture included in the 2006 show.