Students awarded for t-shirt contest

Ty Davidson

Emily Robbins illustration Emily Robbins recieved a $200 scholarship and first place for her design

The Troy University Art and Design department celebrated their brand new, contest-winning, student-designed t-shirts with a screen-printing event open to students.

The competition opened in late September, where students could submit a t-shirt design for both a monetary prize and the opportunity for their design to be screen-printed onto shirts during an event.

"The competition was designed to involve all of our students on a common project,"

said Greg Skaggs, chair of the art and design department.

"We are divergent thinkers, and the hope is to develop a wide variety of approaches."

Skaggs used this competition to promote his idea that students should be inspired by their classmates and look forward to the next opportunity that arises. Some professors of the art and design department used the competition as an assignment.

"[The competition] gets their creativity going and participating in something that has so much exposure gets their professionalism going too." said assistant professor of graphic design, Thiffany Belda.

With the deadline approaching on Sept. 30, 23 students had entered the t-shirt competition - some for an assignment with their classes, some for fun and portfolio material.

The winner of the competition was Emily Robbins, who received a $200 scholarship for

her design. The second place spot and a $100 scholarship went to junior graphic design major Alex

Alex Ashendorf illustration Runner-up Alex Ashendorf recieved a $100 scholarship and second place for her design

"I didn't expect it to be so polarizing," Belda said. "[Robbins] didn't even almost lose, [she] clearly got first place."

Belda calculated that the winner, Robbins, received 28% percent of the votes, over one-fourth of the total votes.

The runner up, Ashendorf, received 13% of the total votes.

The two winners will have their designs screen-printed onto t-shirts at the Get Your Shirt On event onThursday.

Students of any department are encouraged to bring their own T-shirts and bags to the Malone courtyard at 12 p.m., where the winning designs will be screen-printed by hand for free.

"It's good to get other people involved besides the art department," said Kaylee Simpson, a junior digital studio art major from Enterprise, Alabama.

"We're including a lot of people to come see our art and get shirts, I hope it continues."