San Ramon High School Arts Program Receives Top National Recognition

San Ramon, CA— The College Board has recognized Dougherty Valley High School’s (DVHS) “Beauty in Age” project as the National Winner for the 2016 College Board Award for Excellence and Innovation in the Arts. DVHS received the top honor nationally for an award that celebrates the achievements of arts initiatives that serve students in grades 6–12 and that promote student learning and creativity in exemplary and innovative ways.

The Beauty in Age project began three years ago, when Advanced Placement (AP) Studio Art teacher Kelsey Wengel was designing units of study in portraiture. Her students created portraits every year, and the quality of the images they produced was exceptional, but she noticed that the portraits often didn't convey enough of a story about the subject. She proposed a field trip to the local senior center, where students could meet and interview a group of willing senior citizens from their community, and then create portraits of them.

Students prepared interview questions, considering historical and world events that they could ask their partnering seniors about. After meeting their partners and spending the day with them, students began work on their portraits, focusing not only on composition and aesthetics, but also on the intent behind their work, and the ways that the portraits might tell viewers something about the subject. The student art examples are masterful and varied, reflecting a true consideration of the unique qualities of their senior partners.

"It has become a highlight of our AP Art program. It's something the students look forward to, and also something that our community has grown to acknowledge and support. Many of our senior citizens sign up to be involved in the program a year in advance, and we still have students staying in touch with their senior participants. Some have been contracted to do commissioned pieces, and many have built lasting friendships with the families involved. It really has built a bridge between families and generations," Wengel said.

The “Beauty in Age” project was also recognized in March 2016 by the California Parks and Recreation Society’s Aging Section Award for “Creating Community through Partnerships and Collaboration.” The project is possible through a partnership with the City of San Ramon’s Parks and Community Services Department.

Announcement, photo submitted by San Ramon Valley Unified School District