November 17, 2023

ArtCenter100 Reaches $2.4 Million Milestone in Support of ArtCenter College of Design

For over 37 years ArtCenter100 has funded hundreds of artists and designers through scholarships and a promise of every student fulfilling their dreams

ArtCenter100, a financial support group of ArtCenter College of Design, recently reached a major milestone with more than $2.4 million raised to directly support student scholarships. Established in 1986, ArtCenter100 was founded by Pasadena resident Alyce de Roulet Williamson to provide much-needed scholarship assistance to the College’s talented art and design students. In addition, the group introduces community members to the College through social gatherings and educational programs.

ArtCenter President Karen Hofmann, (BS 97), acknowledged the $2.4 million milestone at the group’s annual meeting on November 3 at ArtCenter’s Hillside Campus in Pasadena.

“I’m deeply grateful to the many generous members of ArtCenter100 for their unwavering decades of support for our students,” said Hofmann. “Funding scholarships to increase access to an art and design education is a top priority at ArtCenter. One of the most meaningful ways to support our next generation of talented and deserving students is to make this specialized education more affordable. We are grateful for the strong partnership of ArtCenter100 and the College for nearly four decades.”

ArtCenter100’s financial contributions to the College have directly impacted approximately 500 students spanning across the College’s undergraduate programs including Mark Kakunegoda, a Transportation Design major from Los Angeles.

“Education has the power to transform lives, but not everyone gets the opportunities they deserve due to financial barriers,” said Kakunegoda. “Programs like the ArtCenter100 scholarship I received make it possible for individuals from diverse backgrounds to pursue their dreams and access the education they need to thrive.”

Recent graduates have established careers in their chosen fields such as Travis Cantrell (BS 20) who is now a UX designer at Oracle in San Francisco, Chase Ghiglia (BS 20) who is now at General Motors as a Color, Materials and Finishes designer, and Alyssa Spelios Hudson (BFA 21) who works as a graphic designer at Dynamic Dynosaur. Another ArtCenter100 scholar, Ximena Amaya (BFA 22) from Mexico City is currently a Fellow at ArtCenter’s Hoffmitz Milken Center for Typography and was recently featured in VoyageLA magazine, a publication created to authentically feature the best of Los Angeles.

At ArtCenter100’s November 3 annual meeting, Hofmann presented the honorary ArtCenter donor pencil, recognizing the momentous milestone, to current ArtCenter100 President Janice Bea and ArtCenter100 founder and ArtCenter Trustee Emeritus Alyce de Roulet Williamson. The pencil will be displayed on donor walls on both ArtCenter campuses.

Williamson founded ArtCenter100 as a support group of mission-driven individuals committed to fund scholarships and ease the financial burden of earning a degree from ArtCenter. ArtCenter100 is the College’s largest community support group. In addition to raising funds for scholarships, ArtCenter100 members have influenced countless other significant gifts including several members who have established their own endowed scholarships.

ArtCenter100 continues to support the next generation of artists and designers through their financial support and community engagement. To learn more about the group, please contact Chris Allen, director of annual giving at 626 396-2490 or chris.allen@artcenter.edu.

About ArtCenter: Founded in 1930 and located in Pasadena, California, ArtCenter College of Design is a global leader in art and design education. ArtCenter offers 11 undergraduate and 10 graduate degrees in a wide variety of art and design disciplines. In addition to its top-ranked academic programs, the College also serves the general public through a highly regarded series of year-round online and on campus extension programs for all levels of experience. Renowned for both its ties to industry and its social impact initiatives, ArtCenter is the first design school to receive the United Nations’ Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) status. Throughout the College’s long and storied history, ArtCenter alumni have had a profound impact on popular culture, the way we live and important issues in our society.

Contact:
Teri Bond
Media Relations Director
ArtCenter College of Design
teri.bond@artcenter.edu
626 396-2385 office

Current ArtCenter100 President Janice Bea with ArtCenter President and CEO Karen Hofmann presenting the honorary engraved pencil to ArtCenter100 founder Alyce de Roulet Williamson on November 3, 2023 in Pasadena. © ArtCenter College of Design/Juan Posada
Current ArtCenter100 President Janice Bea with ArtCenter President and CEO Karen Hofmann presenting the honorary engraved pencil to ArtCenter100 founder Alyce de Roulet Williamson on November 3, 2023 in Pasadena. © ArtCenter College of Design/Juan Posada
ArtCenter100 scholarship recipients Beth Orrick-Arno (left) with Shayna Reyes. Both students are majoring in animation in the Entertainment Design department at ArtCenter College of Design. © ArtCenter College of Design/Juan Posada
ArtCenter100 scholarship recipients Beth Orrick-Arno (left) with Shayna Reyes. Both students are majoring in animation in the Entertainment Design department at ArtCenter College of Design. © ArtCenter College of Design/Juan Posada
About 45 members of the ArtCenter100 support group attended the annual meeting to celebrate the $2.4 million milestone pencil presentation and meet student scholarship recipients. © ArtCenter College of Design/Juan Posada
About 45 members of the ArtCenter100 support group attended the annual meeting to celebrate the $2.4 million milestone pencil presentation and meet student scholarship recipients. © ArtCenter College of Design/Juan Posada