Meet The Coordinator!

My name is Michelle Trudeau, and I am the 2020 Art Awards Coordinator! I am a junior who is studying marketing at Capital University and am actively involved with fraternity and sorority life on campus. I serve as vice president of programming for my sorority, Delta Phi Epsilon, as well as senior vice president for my fraternity, Delta Sigma Pi. Another way I am involved on campus includes being a co-coordinator for a pre-orientation program, Smooth Transitions, that has a specialized focus on diversity and inclusion. I have a passion for program planning, and I am grateful to have many opportunities to express that at Capital.

The performing arts have always been a huge part of my life since I was involved in band and show choir growing up, but this is the first time visual arts will be a part of my life. I enjoy connecting with people and learning from them, and that is probably what I am most excited about. It has been an honor to work with some amazing artists who are now teaching the next generation of artists. The talent that I have seen through this competition, in the past, has been indescribably beautiful and unique, and I anticipate nothing different from this years' nominees!

I work with some of the most intelligent people I have had the pleasure to meet, and I look forward to seeing what is in store for the next year. I am extremely humbled to be a part of AICUO and have the opportunity to plan the 2020 EVAs.


Some fun facts about me are:

• I am from Oak Hills, California.
• I am a black belt in Tae Kwon Do.
• I used to despise the color purple before I became a part of the #CapFam! 

If you have any questions about the 2020 EVAs, you may reach me at my email, mtrudeau@aicuo.edu, or by phone at 614-228-2196.

5 Reasons To Keep Up With The 2020 EVAs

1. The First of Its Kind

AICUO's Award for Excellence in the Visual Arts (EVAs) is the nation's first intercollegiate online arts competition that started in 2008. Seniors are nominated by the deans/chairs of their art department at participating independent colleges and universities of Ohio. This competition is judged by art faculty of our affiliated institutions as well as local artists. Following this competition, each nominated artist will have a permanent portfolio on the AICUO website!

2. Opportunities To Experience The Artwork 

From the Vern Riffe Center hosting an open gallery with our 6 winners' artwork to nominated artists being featured at several galleries during the May Gallery Hop in the Short North, there are many ways to go and experience the artwork first hand. This year we will be expanding our gallery participation to other major cities in Ohio! But even if you can not make it out, the portfolios are online, so you can enjoy the artwork from the comfort of your bed! 

3. Any Student At Our 51 Institutions Can Participate 

Although the EVAs competition is for students who are majoring in the visual arts, we host a cooresponding design competition that any student from our 51 affiliated institutions can enter! Each winner of the EVAs receives an award, and you could be the one to design it. The winner of the design competition will have the chance to discuss their idea with this year's award artist, Dustin Wagner, glassblower, to create the 2020 awards!

4. Help Us Choose A Winner!

Aside from the 6 winners of the competition, we also give a "People's Choice" award to one artist. Come December, anyone will be able to vote for their favorite artist/artwork on our website at http://www.aicuoartaward.com. We want to hear  what the public thinks of these up and coming artists. 

5. Join The Celebration! 

We will be celebrating the nominees and winners on Tuesday, March 31st 2020! All are welcome to join us in congratulating these incredible artists on their achievements at Denison University. We hope to see you all there!