Karen McDonnell receives Art League and Kittinger scholarships

Karen McDonnell, graduating Hilton Head High School senior, has won both the Art League of Hilton Head’s annual $2,000 scholarship, as well as the Barbara and Clayton Kittinger $1,000 scholarship. The decision was based on her outstanding photography portfolio, leadership skills, athletic achievements, and glowing teacher recommendations. Karen will be attending Savannah College of Art and Design this fall, where she plans to further explore her passion for photography and videography while being a member of the SCAD equestrian team.

“I want to create films and interviews with people usually excluded from the limelight. Everyone has a different story, which needs to be valued and told,” says Karen. She looks forward to meeting people from different walks of life, and to studying abroad and exploring different cultures.

Karen’s teachers laud her artistic and academic accomplishments, citing her willingness to mentor other students and receptivity to constructive criticism as being especially impressive. “Whether Karen is competing for academic grades, dancing in recitals, horseback riding competitively, or creating stunning visual artworks, she is determined to succeed in every way possible,” writes photography instructor Patricia Schoelkopf-Lewis.

Karen’s artistic accomplishments and extracurricular activities include National Art Honor Society (Vice President), Island Ambassador, Hilton Head Dance Theatre, Drexel Photography Contest finalist, winning Gold Keys, Silver Keys, and Honorable Mentions in Scholastic Art Awards Exhibition for Photography, first and third place in Photographic Society of America’s Youth Showcase, and first place in Camera Club of Hilton Head’s annual contest.

The Art League of Hilton Head scholarship program encourages students to develop their artistic skills and pursue a career in the visual arts. The funding of this scholarship is made possible through charitable donations made to Art League of Hilton Head. If you would like to contribute to Art League’s scholarship fund, please email director@artleaguehhi.org or call (843)681-5060 for more information.