I’m so excited to announce that I’m a Patron of the 6th Annual UCR Photography Scholarship Contest.
UCR has announced that they will be awarding over $10,000 in scholarships at it’s upcoming Retail as Art Exhibition and awards ceremony that takes place on April 9th at 129 Leslie. Retail as Art is an annual photography scholarship competition that showcases the best photographic talent in DFW-area high schools and rewards their talent with college scholarships! UCR created this 5013c organization in 2008 as a way to give back to the community. All Retail as Art proceeds go to benefit the UCR Retail as Art Fund, which is organized and operated exclusively for educational and charitable purposes.
“We are humbled by the generosity and support of our clients, colleagues and business partners,” said Mickey Ashmore, Founder of Retail as Art and UCR CEO. “Each year we build upon the last. It’s tremendous to see the positive impact of this program in the community.”
This year Retail as Art is doubling the scholarship dollars awarded over the last year because of successful fundraising. The number of participating schools and students has also increased significantly this year.
“We have 165 students from 21 schools participating. Our judges will face a challenge when they gather to select the winners on March 13,” Ashmore said.
The competition also added an Instagram category this year which I’m very excited about. “By adding Instagram to Retail as Art we are able to reach a larger group of student photographers. Our goal is to interest more students by tweaking our format over time,” Kendall Schiffler, Corporate Director of Marketing, UCR.
The panel of esteemed Retail as Art judges includes Evans Caglage, The Dallas Morning News; Wade Griffith, Commercial Photographer; Teresa Gubbins, CultureMap; Lisa Petty, DFW Style Daily; Samantha Reitmayer Sano, SWOON, the studio; Bernard Underwood, An Intimate Place; and Jeyson Paez, @InstaDFW (Instagram Judge).
A group of bloggers have graciously agreed to serve as Retail as Art Patrons to help raise the profile of the program in the community. These individuals include Cynthia Smoot, Oh So Cynthia; Betsy Mitchell, The Dallas Socials and Lip Gloss and High Heels; Jennifer Buxton, Real Posh Mom; Lea Ann Stundins, Mommy’s Wish List and Courtney and Allison Edwards, Where Wear in the City.
The Retail as Art program will culminate with a gallery-style Photography Exhibition and Awards Ceremony planned for 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. on April 9 at 129 Leslie. The event will showcase the top submissions and features hors d’oeuvres provided by Bolsa Mercado, beverages, valet parking courtesy of Sewell Dealerships, tunes by DJ Blake Ward and an opportunity for students to mingle with judges and sponsors. Prints of the winning photographs will be on sale at the event.
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