The Art Institutes and Americans for the Arts Poster Design Competition Honors 2012 National Winners

WASHINGTON, June 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The grand prize winners of The Art Institutes and Americans for the Arts Poster Design Competition 2012 are traveling to Washington, D.C. to accept their scholarship awards at a Congressional Reception on Capitol Hill. Joshua Allred of Rathdrum, Idaho is grand prize winner in the high school senior category of the competition. He earns a full tuition scholarship to The Art Institute of Seattle. Tyrell McGruder of Smyrna, Ga. was chosen as grand prize winner in the high school graduate category. He earns a $10,000 tuition scholarship to The Art Institute of Atlanta–Decatur, a branch of The Art Institute of Atlanta.

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The competition, which is sponsored by The Art Institutes and Americans for the Arts, challenged students to create original poster designs that best expressed the theme, "You Can Create Tomorrow." Students submitted their entries to participating Art Institutes schools, where local competitions in the high school senior and high school graduate categories were held and winners were selected. The first place winners' entries were judged nationally by a panel of graphic design professionals from around the country.

When asked about his first place finish, Allred said, "I feel absolutely honored and blessed to receive that kind of award for the talents I've been given and the amount work I've put in." McGruder echoes those sentiments, and says he is extremely excited about the possibilities the scholarship opens up for him.

Megan Avery is the national second place winner in the high school senior category. She earns a half-tuition scholarship to study at The Art Institute of Raleigh-Durham. And as the national third place winner in the high school senior category, Andrea Knapp, earns a quarter-tuition scholarship to study at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh. Avery and Knapp will also travel to Washington, D.C. for the June 27 Congressional Reception to accept their awards.

"Every year I am impressed by the kind of talent and imagination represented in the Poster Design Competition. The Art Institutes are committed to fostering and supporting our students' passion by providing them with a solid foundation to pursue applied arts careers and create a more inspired tomorrow," said John Mazzoni, president of The Art Institutes.

President and CEO of Americans for the Arts Robert L. Lynch agreed, "Americans for the Arts applauds the work of these talented students. This competition provides them with an excellent opportunity to challenge themselves artistically and encourages them to pursue their passion."

For more information on The Art Institutes and Americans for the Arts Poster Design Competition and to see all the local first place entries, visit www.artinstitutes.edu/poster.

About The Art Institutes

The Art Institutes (www.artinstitutes.edu) is a system of more than 50 schools located throughout North America. The Art Institutes schools provide an important source for design, media arts, fashion and culinary arts professionals. Several institutions included in The Art Institutes system are campuses of South University or Argosy University. OH Registration # 04-01-1698B; AC0165, AC0080; Licensed by the Florida Commission for Independent Education, License No. 1287, 3427, 3110. 2581. See aiprograms.info for program duration, tuition, fees and other costs, median debt, federal salary data, alumni success and other important info.

About Americans for the Arts

Americans for the Arts is the leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education in America. With offices in Washington, D.C. and New York City, it has a record of more than 50 years of service. Americans for the Arts is dedicated to representing and serving local communities and creating opportunities for every American to participate in and appreciate all forms of the arts. Additional information is available at www.AmericansForTheArts.org.

SOURCE The Art Institutes