This Saturday, Feb. 17, SCAD lacrosse hosts a double header for a good cause. Playing at home at the SCAD Athletic Complex in Hardeeville, South Carolina, SCAD women's and men's lacrosse teams invite all members of the SCAD community and the public to attend in support of Lace Up With Lax, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to "ending homelessness one step at a time."

Each attendee is asked to bring at least one pair of new, unworn children's shoes for donation. Entrance to the games is free.

SCAD women’s lacrosse, under head coach Adrienne Berkland, face off against Point University at 2 p.m. The Lady Bees (1-0) look to build upon their convincing 13-8 season-opening win over Wingate University.

SCAD men’s lacrosse (1-0) will play Montreat College at 4:30 p.m. The SCAD men, under head coach Michael Cummings, opened their season last week with a thrilling 12-10 victory versus Tennessee Wesleyan.

SCAD students will be able to take a shuttle bus to the SCAD Athletic Complex in Hardeeville on Saturday. The first shuttle will leave from Turner House at 1:30 p.m., and will loop continually to the athletic complex and back until the conclusion of the men's game at approximately 6 p.m. Free pizza and beverages sweeten the deal.

This is the first year SCAD has participated in Lace Up With Lax, reflecting SCAD's commitment to the core values of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Champions of Character initiative. Champions of Character empowers student-athletes, coaches, officials and fans to be role models for sportsmanship and fair play on the field and in the community.

"One of our goals with SCAD Athletics is to be conscious of things we often take for granted," says SCAD Coach Cummings. "We've always had shoes on our feet, but that's not the case for everyone. We're proud to participate in Lace Up With Lax. There's a world beyond the playing field. Of course we want to win. We also want to make the world a better place."

SCAD Athletics Complex, 3650 Speedway Blvd., Hardeeville, SC 29927
Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018, women’s game @ 2 p.m.; men’s game @ 4:30
Bring one new, unworn pair of children’s shoes.
Support SCAD Athletics and Lace Up With LAX!

On Friday, Feb. 9, 2018, SCAD reprised the Savannah Women of Vision investiture. A full house gathered in the Arnold Hall theater to pay tribute to the honorees named by SCAD president and founder Paula Wallace. It was a moment for reflection upon the realization of her vision.

In 2006, President Wallace walked into the theater of the 1920-Georgian Revival now known as Arnold Hall, once Chatham County's first public junior high school. The proscenium arch bore a New Deal-era mural depicting bellwethers of Georgia history. She discerned a Yamacraw Indian chief, a governor of Georgia, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, the father of Methodism, the founder of the colony of Georgia, and a handful of Revolutionary War generals under a patina of neglect. Immediately, she noticed that preservation was in order. (Luckily, SCAD specializes in old buildings. This particular restoration earned SCAD awards from the Historic Savannah Foundation and the Georgia Trust.) And she noticed a significant elision. The mural, funded by the Civil Works Administration and the National Recovery Administration, excluded women. In 2016, President Wallace launched the Savannah Women of Vision to right the record. 

This year, President Wallace added five honorees to the ten inaugural Savannah Women of Vision. Plaques bearing their names greet visitors at the entrance to the Arnold Hall theater. To the left is a large ship's wheel anchored by a quote by Diane Mariechild: "A woman is the full circle. Within her is the power to create, nurture and transform." Golden bas-relief portraits, hand carved by SCAD alumnus Michael Porten (M.F.A., painting, 2012; B.F.A., illustration, 2004) flank the interior walls of the theater. In the spirit of inquiry proper to the liberal arts housed in Arnold Hall, the new art converses with the old. Juxtaposition encourages synthesis.

The timing of the ceremony coincided with an important cultural epoch. For a bright hour on a rainy Friday, women lifted their voices:

Artist and gallerist Tiffani Taylor (M.F.A., painting; M.A., art history, 2003; B.F.A., painting, 2002) welcomed guests and detailed President Wallace's history of empowerment. The SCAD Presidential Scholarship brought Taylor to the university as a freshman, and the Alumni Atelier residency embraced her as a graduate. Today, she endows a namesake SCAD scholarship.

One of the university's first dramatic writing majors, Allison Hirsch (M.F.A., dramatic writing, 2014; B.F.A., dramatic writing, 2010), put her narrative gift to good use in limning the irrepressible Miriam Center, an acclaimed author, playwright, and advocate for women.

A career in community and economic development ushered Ebony Simpson (M.F.A., historic preservation, 2002) into the orbit of former Mayor Edna Jackson. Simpson offered personal insights into the life of the city's first African-American mayor, citing Jackson's civil rights legacy and consummate statesmanship.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation's Sehila Mota Casper (M.F.A., historic preservation, 2014) recognized a kindred spirit and leading light in the late preservationist Mary Lane Morrison. Through meticulous written and photographic documentation, Morrison curated a portrait of Savannah and the city's architects for posterity.

Current SCAD Alumni Atelier ambassador and playwright A'ndrea Wilson (M.F.A., dramatic writing, 2017) vividly recalled the poignant film that etched actress Fredericka Washington into the cultural consciousness: "Imitation of life." Unlike the character Peola, Washington embraced her identity and advocated for civil rights.

Southern Living associate editor and tastemaker Hannah Hayes (M.A., arts administration, 2013) earned a big laugh by quoting critic Craig Claiborne, who ranked beloved restaurateur Sema Wilkes' biscuits among the greatest occurrences of his life. Today, Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room is synonymous with the finest in home-cooked, family-style fare.

Noted philanthropist and 2016 Savannah Woman of Vision Alice Jepson graciously delivered closing remarks, acknowledging honorees past and present. As she spoke each name, a shaft of light illumined the respective likeness.

The celebration culminated with a powerful rendition of "I'm Here," by "American Idol" Season 12 winner Candice Glover (B.F.A., performing arts) and Sandie Lee (M.F.A., performing arts; B.F.A., performing arts, 2015) that brought the audience to their feet. Everyone agreed the Women of Vision were fully present, fully represented.

This Friday, Feb., 9, 5:30 p.m. at historic Arnold Hall, SCAD president and founder Paula Wallace will present the 2018 Savannah Women of Vision investiture, honoring women of peerless valor, altruism and intellect who have shaped the great city of Savannah. All members of the university and Savannah community are invited to attend.

At a ceremony suffused with oratory, music and art, each honoree will be extolled in permanent tribute with an individual relief portrait carved beforehand by SCAD alumnus Michael Porten (B.F.A. illustration, M.F.A. painting). The portraits will adorn the walls of Arnold Hall, home of the SCAD School of Liberal Arts.

The 2018 Savannah Women of Vision honorees are:

• Miriam Center
• Edna Jackson
• Mary Lane Morrison
• Fredericka Washington
• Sema Wilkes

These women represented a range of civic, educational, philanthropic, and creative endeavors. They are all trailblazing contributors to the legacy of Savannah.

Friday’s event is the second annual Savannah Women of Vision investiture. This year’s honorees join previous honorees Emma Morel Adler, Mother Mathilda Beasley, Mary Musgrove Matthews Bosomworth, Alice Andrews Jepson, Nancy N. Lewis, Juliette Gordon Low, Abigail Minis, Flannery O'Connor, Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears and Frances Wong.

The genesis of Wallace’s Savannah Women of Vision initiative can be traced to the Works Progress Administration’s 1930s mural in the Arnold Hall Theater. The mural, a visual ode to the titans of Savannah’s history, is notable in its omission of women. Wallace created the Savannah Women of Vision to elevate an underrepresented yet tremendously influential demographic.

By symbolically righting the historical record, President Wallace honors paragons of civic virtue to whom students can look for inspiration. The university offers tours of the Savannah Women of Vision portrait installation in Arnold Hall to K-12 students and educators. A free curriculum guide provides historic context to the portrait installation.

“Savannah as we know it rests on the triumphs of its women,” remarked President Wallace. “I created the Savannah Women of Vision at SCAD to illuminate trailblazers and their transcendent work, keeping their names and deeds not only in our hearts, but publicly acclaimed. These are our heroines.”

The following SCAD alumnae will speak during the ceremony: Tiffani Taylor (M.A., art history, 2003; B.F.A., painting, 2002); Allison Hirsch (M.F.A., dramatic writing, 2014; B.F.A., dramatic writing, 2010); Ebony Simpson (M.F.A., historic preservation, 2002); Sehila Mota Casper (M.F.A., historic preservation, 2014); A'ndrea Wilson (M.F.A., dramatic writing, 2017); Hannah Hayes (M.A., arts administration, 2013). Closing remarks will be delivered by Alice Jepson, Savannah Woman of Vision. A musical performances by Sandie Lee (M.F.A., performing arts; B.F.A., performing arts, 2015) and American Idol winner Candice Glover (B.F.A., performing arts) will elevate the celebration on a rousing note.

SCAD invites the public to join the celebration for this free event.

On the evening of January 18, 2018, in the Great Hall of Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum, SCAD president and founder Paula Wallace was introduced by Caroline Baumann, director of the Cooper Hewitt, at a celebration of the publication of "SCAD: The Architecture of a University" by Assouline Books.

Written by contributing authors Paula Wallace, Margaret Russell and Chuck Chewning, "SCAD: The Architecture of a University" is a 360-page volume, replete with 40 detailed narratives and 200 sublime photographs, highlighting the university's most inspired and inspiring spaces. The book leads readers from the university's flagship building, Poetter Hall, to the panoply of SCAD architectural marvels around Savannah, and in Atlanta, Hong Kong and Lacoste.

President Wallace's following remarks, delivered in her address at Cooper Hewitt, celebrate the connection between SCAD and the institution of the Smithsonian.

PAULA WALLACE: Thank you, Caroline, for your personal attention to this book launch and for leading the world's preeminent design museum. Please also join me in recognizing SCAD Trustee Lucy Cookson, and giving special thanks to Galerie editor-in-chief and Honorary Dean of the SCAD School of Building Arts Margaret Russell and acclaimed designer and SCAD alumnus Chuck Chewning, both of whom contributed essays to this special book we're celebrating tonight. And, of course, thank you to our esteemed publisher, Assouline.

I love this place and its rapturous marriage of historic architecture and contemporary design. This is very SCAD. Old buildings tell stories. The story of this historic mansion speaks of the Gilded Age, and the tale might end there. But, thanks to the Cooper Hewitt, the narrative of this building has advanced into a new century with a new purpose: as a sanctuary for the study and celebration of the Cooper Hewitt collection and myriad fascinating exhibitions.

Of the more than 210,000 objects in this museum collection, the most precious design object surely is this very building itself. The adaptive rehabilitation of architecture is distinct among design disciplines, where the maker rescues a beautiful object and creates a radical new purpose for it. It's a kind of double design. We are in the midst of a great human migration to cities, and our world desperately needs solutions that employ this double design thinking, as practiced by Cooper Hewitt and SCAD.

The story we tell in "The Architecture of a University" is about the power of adaptive new use to foster human flourishing.

Preservation design also strengthens economies, as proven by the half-a-billion-dollar economic impact of SCAD. Adaptive reuse generates more jobs than new construction, especially when you fill the architecture with a purpose that addresses a cultural need. Cooper Hewitt and SCAD are doing just that: Repurposing history for the future, for memory, for vitality.

Please visit the museum store and find a copy of "The Architecture of a University," a memorable gift for anyone who loves architecture and design. Thank you, Cooper Hewitt, for hosting SCAD here tonight. This magical space truly does feel like home.

Mollie Youngblood (B.F.A., painting, 2010) is giving artists a new place to showcase their work. Her unique boutique, Bohemia South, opened July 2017 just off the southwest corner of Forsyth Park. Selling local art, vintage furniture, apparel and handmade products like repurposed jewelry and all-natural soaps, Bohemia South brings a folksy flair to the growing number of SCAD alumni-owned businesses in Savannah. To celebrate her boutique's first six months of business, Mollie is prepping Bohemia South for its first trunk show this Friday and Saturday, Feb. 9-10.


SCAD: What drew you to SCAD?

MOLLIE YOUNGBLOOD: I remember falling in love with how the campus was throughout Savannah, so you weren't constricted to one central building. I also liked the university's focus on careers. At SCAD, the focus is not only on being a well-rounded artist, but becoming successful afterwards.

SCAD: How did your SCAD professors enhance your university experience?


YOUNGBLOOD: Painting professor Denise Bowman Carson helped me explore mixed media, and taught me a lot about image placement and choosing materials. We clicked because we're both from the Midwest. She's been in my store a few times since, and it's great to know I still have SCAD support.


SCAD: How did you create the concept for Bohemia South?

YOUNGBLOOD: My mom, Milea Hayes, owns a vintage home décor and new apparel store in Urbana, Illinois, called Bohemia, and it was definitely an inspiration for us to open Bohemia South as an extension. We're all about upcycling or recycling used materials. It runs in the family! My mom took me antiquing with her from a very young age. My grandfather is a skilled carpenter, and once built me a playhouse in our backyard. Then, in 8th grade, I turned it into a painting studio.

SCAD: What types of artwork are you looking to feature in the future?


YOUNGBLOOD: I like to sell paintings—landscapes, Savannah scenery, even floral paintings. I plan on featuring more baby products, especially baby clothes that are easy to take care of and something mothers can throw in the washing machine. And I would love to do a fashion show some day! I prefer it when artists come in person and actually see the space. My goal is to have the artists be part of my business, to help with their design concepts and also for them to show me how they'd like their work displayed. Artists who are interested in having their work at Bohemia South can email me to make an appointment or if you stop by and I'm not there, leave a business card and I'll reach out to you.

SCAD: What can customers expect at the upcoming trunk show?

YOUNGBLOOD: On the first day, this Friday, Feb. 9, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., several artists will be in the store to discuss their work and bring in more art to sell. There will be wine, Valentine's Day treats and a fun kissing/photography booth. The next day, Saturday, Feb. 10, is structured more like an open house. We'll be open regular hours and the artists will be in and out all day. I look forward to seeing you there!

Bohemia South, 1115 Whitaker St., Savannah, GA 31401

SCAD is at the forefront of the world of branded entertainment. In 2014, SCAD began offering the first academic degree program in branded entertainment in the United States. And at SCAD aTVfest 2018 in Atlanta, branded entertainment was the focus of multiple panel discussions, including "The Art of Branded Entertainment" featuring panelists Caressa Douglas of Branded Entertainment Network and Brian Tolleson of creative agency Bark Bark.

At "The Art of Branded Entertainment,", aTVfest attendees learned how an apparently new model of promotion has roots as old as television itself.

Douglas, a senior vice president at the Bill Gates-founded Branded Entertainment Network, explained that branded entertainment dates to early television shows entirely sponsored by a single brand. When production costs and talent fees increased from the late 1950s through the 1970s, sponsorships converted to multiple brands buying 30-second spots on shows.

Modern product placement took off in the early 1980s with the insertion of Reese's Pieces in the blockbuster film "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial." More than three decades later, entire companies exist to create content for brands that want to be in this space. One such agency is Atlanta-based Bark Bark, whose founder is Brian Tolleson.

"Television once had interruptive commercials," Tolleson told the aTVfest audience, "but now with integration, brands have become part of storytelling."

Today's younger viewers are accustomed to skipping commercials with streaming and online viewing. With $150 billion spent globally each year on all types of advertising buys, even the biggest player in the business, Netflix, must participate. If they do not, the advertising dollar will find a willing partner elsewhere.

Another reason is the increase in quality and budgets of television series. For example, "The Crown" is budgeted at $5 million per episode. To interrupt such a visually sophisticated production with a commercial simply wouldn't work.

Both panelists emphasized that brands add value and reach that cannot occur without a massive media budget. A campaign to increase tourism goes farther when a joyous musical routine in an airport is branded by travel website Orbitz. People want the brands they buy to share their values. Branded entertainment makes this happen, and offers more opportunities for content developers. Like the SCAD students immersed in learning how it works, branded entertainment is the future of content.

Every February, SCAD aTVfest brings together working creative professionals and emerging student talent for three days of screenings, panels, workshops and master classes. The sixth annual SCAD aTVfest kicked off Thursday at SCAD Atlanta with packed rooms and a buzz in the air, as executive and creative writer Janet Arlotta moderated the panel on "The Evolution of Content Development."

With ever-increasing spaces to place content, networks are developing entirely new creative divisions while brands themselves deliver content directly to consumers. Opportunities are growing exponentially as television redefines itself. The panelists reflected the burgeoning diversity of this creative space.

Independent producer and director Ilyssa Goodman instructed attendees that no matter how good an idea is, it still needs a buyer. Viewers are customers, Goodman explained, and the challenges of short attention spans and content overload are leading to more short-form storytelling. FX Networks vice president of production Maureen Timpa said that while not long ago a creative pitch for a show included a full season's worth of plot and character development with three story arcs, today eight tight episodes are the norm.

The content development landscape is changing. Goodman pointed out that the company that delivers her groceries, Amazon, also wins Emmy Awards. Crowdfunding sites put creators in control of budgets and their destiny. The competition is fierce, but there has never been a more inviting playing field for content creators.

"You're fighting for time," says Jeremy Lindenmier, creative director of Denver, Colorado-based creative agency Friends of Mine. This new landscape demands a different approach to how projects are created. Brands must be elevated with distinctive content, well beyond what conventional advertising achieved. With so many messages, content must stand out and fit in to the hectic schedules of consumers.

Panelist Miguel Hernández, creative lead at smartphone protector OtterBox, stands at the forefront of branded content creation. "Content has to be insightful and connect on a level that is real,“ Hernández said. The OtterBox product line, known for its damage-resistant tablet and smartphone cases, launched its new, slimmer and more stylish line with a global short film where different local photographers capture the sights on their OtterBox-cased phones. Unscripted and produced in a few short weeks, the film informs consumers that an OtterBox can be stylish and tough. He advised, "Don't begin with an idea, begin with an insight. The idea will come."

A point all the panelists made was to always ask "Why?" Ensuring value in content requires introspection, and the final product should never seem forced. Creators must build sound business strategies that embrace the power of "Why?"

With three full days of events to come, SCAD aTVfest 2018 is poised to deliver the answers.

"I became a filmmaker because I knew I had stories to tell," said Swiss-born director and writer Alexandre O. Philippe, an honored SCADFILM guest, as he led a masterclass on the art of writing with SCAD Atlanta students. "Now, 14 years later, I'm still making films. I'm still telling the stories that keep me up at night."

In his new documentary, "78/52," Philippe explores the multitude of shots and cuts Alfred Hitchcock used to create the infamous shower scene in his 1960 film "Psycho." The screeching strings, the plunging knife, the slow zoom out from a lifeless eyeball: "Psycho" radically altered cinema with its taboo-shattering shower scene. With 78 camera set-ups and 52 edits over the course of three minutes, "Psycho" redefined screen violence, setting the stage for decades of subsequent slasher flicks, and introduced a new element of danger to the moviegoing experience. Aided by a roster of filmmakers, critics, and fans including Guillermo del Toro, Bret Easton Ellis, Jamie Lee Curtis, Eli Roth, and Peter Bogdanovich, Philippe pulls back the curtain on this cinematic game changer, with a frame-by-frame breakdown of Hitchcock's web of allusions and double meanings.

In addition to hosting a screening of "78/52," Philippe taught two masterclasses on writing and directing during his week at SCAD Atlanta. He captivated his SCAD Atlanta audience with his wisdom and passion for storytelling and poignant references to the filmmakers of Hollywood's storied past.

Referencing David Lynch and Akira Kurosawa and quoting Orson Welles and Aristotle, Philippe sited his beginnings as a writer as one of the reasons for his success as a filmmaker. That, and his fire to tell stories.

"A story is a promise," Philippe told SCAD students. "You're promising something. On some level you need to deliver on those expectations, or exceed them."

Philippe's visit culminated in the SCADshow screening of "78/52," which delivered on its promise and then some. The screening was followed by a question-and-answer session with the writer/director.

As the leading program for professional engagement in film, entertainment and the digital arts, SCADFILM offers exclusive access to industry influencers, leading resources, private masterclasses and certifications. SCADFILM was created as an evolution of the SCAD Savannah Film Festival, which celebrated its 20th anniversary this past fall. Demand for television content led to SCAD aTVfest, a celebration of the small screen held in Atlanta. SCADFILM celebrates the 6th annual SCAD aTVfest February 1-3, 2018.

This Thursday presents a stylish opportunity for prospective SCAD students in Atlanta.

Come to SCAD Atlanta Thursday, Jan. 11 at 4:00 pm and enter a world of design and entertainment with a tour of SCAD Atlanta fashion programs. Prospective students will learn about the department’s rigorous curriculum, state-of-the-art technology, and professionally connected faculty. The free event includes a tour of SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film, including current exhibit "Guo Pei: Couture Beyond."

Prospective students will experience the premiere U.S. solo museum exhibition of acclaimed fashion designer Guo Pei, China’s most renowned couturière and the first Chinese national designer invited to join the prestigious Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture. This landmark exhibition presents more than 30 of her most exquisite gowns, accordant footwear and accessories.

For more than 20 years, Guo Pei has dressed distinguished ladies, royalty, political elite and international influencers. In her fantastical creations, Guo Pei imbues contemporary high fashion with ancient tradition, invoking history and mythology through intricate craftsmanship, opulent embroidery and sumptuous detail. Featured prominently in the exhibition is the iconic imperial yellow cape worn by Rihanna to the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute Gala in 2015 — a seminal moment that introduced Guo Pei to America's fashion cognoscenti.

SCAD fashion programs consistently garner high praise. The SCAD fashion programs are ranked No. 1 globally for Best Learning Experience and No. 1 in the U.S. for Best Long-term Value in The Business of Fashion’s 2017 Global Fashion School Rankings.

This event is free and open to prospective students. It will begin promptly at 4:00 pm and last approximately 90 minutes.

SCAD Atlanta 1600 Peachtree St NW, Atlanta, GA 30309

As we prepare to bid adieu to 2017, we look back at the past 12 months at SCAD and all the memorable moments we shared. Here is an exemplary selection from the year gone by: the SCAD 17 of '17.

1. SCAD GamingFest premieres in Atlanta: In November, SCAD Atlanta hosted the first ever SCAD GamingFest, a two-day convocation examining the evolving world of game design and development, including appearances by experts from EA SPORTS, Ubisoft, Cartoon Network, Google Daydream Labs and Georgia Game Developers Association.

2. SCAD FASHWKND makes runway splash: The inaugural SCAD FASHWKND in May presented four days of original designs curated from the finest SCAD School of Fashion senior and graduate student collections. A runway show at SCAD Savannah and tableaux vivants at SCAD Atlanta offered glimpses into the fashionable future here and now.

3. SCAD art curation adorns new stadium: SCAD partnered with Mercedes-Benz Stadium, new home of Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United FC, to curate all art for the stadium, featuring more than 200 works by 55 artists including 20 SCAD affiliates. Each game day, the curatorial selections of SCAD enhance the experience of the 71,000 fans in attendance.

4. Symposium for Jacob Lawrence: Amidst "Lines of Influence," the ongoing SCADMOA group exhibition celebrating the centennial of the birth of the acclaimed painter and chronicler of the African American experience, a two-day symposium of lectures, performances, screenings and panel discussions brought together scholars, artists, alumni and students to commemorate Lawrence's life and legacy.

5. Melissa Spitz named TIME's Instagram Photographer of the Year: Alumna Melissa Spitz's (M.F.A. photography, 2014) documentary photo series "You Have Nothing to Worry About" received the TIME accolade. Spitz's work will feature in an upcoming exhibition at the SCAD Museum of Art, opening January 2018.

6. DesignIntelligence recognizes SCAD interior design programs: The university's interior design undergraduate and graduate programs got the esteem treatment from DesignIntelligence, receiving the No. 1 ranking on the list of "America's Best Architecture & Design Schools 2018." Since 2008, SCAD interior design undergraduate and graduate programs have each garnered No. 1 standing six times by DesignIntelligence, the rankings body of the Design Futures Council.

7. Anna Haldewang receives European Product Design Awards: SCAD industrial design student Anna Haldewang's  (B.F.A. industrial design, 2017) project "Renascence" was named Discovery of the Year, the organization's highest honor, as well as capturing the gold medal in the transportation category. "Renascence," a cutting-edge design of a 300-foot trimaran yacht, follows Haldewang's "Plan Bee" drone project in earning the alumna international exposure.

8. Design for Social Impact recognizes Edgar Espejo: Inspired by his experiences with a deaf classmate, Edgar Espejo (B.F.A, industrial design, 2016; B.F.A., service design, 2016) created a service that allows deaf students to participate in regular classes with hearing students. Espejo's supporting service Muhimu (which means vital in Swahili) was recognized by the Core77 Design Awards as student winner in the Design for Social Impact category.

9. SCAD shines at YMA Awards: At the 2017 Young Menswear Association (YMA) Awards, 20 SCAD fashion and fashion marketing and management students each won $5,000 Fashion Scholarship Fund Awards, marking the most awards by a single university in the history of the competition.

10. SCAD alumni permeate Academy Awards: At the 89th Academy Awards, 47 SCAD alumni and students were recognized for their work on 11 of the year's best films, including best picture winner "Moonlight." SCAD alumni contributed to nominees for best picture, animated feature film, cinematography, costume design, directing, film editing, production design, sound editing, visual effects, and adapted screenplay. Eleven alumni contributed to more than one Oscar-nominated film.

11. SCAD Student Media earn top honors: At the 2017 Society for Collegiate Journalists National Contest, SCAD Atlanta's student magazine SCAN claimed first and second place in the Outstanding General Interest Magazine category. SCAD Atlanta Radio staff won first place in Internet Radio and Broadcast Overall Excellence for the second consecutive year.

12. Olivia Ray puts pedals to the medal: In a record setting year for SCAD Athletics at the state and national level, excellence was epitomized SCAD cyclist Olivia Ray, who won two national titles in track cycling at the meet in Indianapolis in September.

13. "SCAD: Architecture of a University" edifies readership: Assouline Publishing released the 360-page volume by contributing authors Paula Wallace, Margaret Russell and Chuck Chewning, highlighting the university's most inspired and inspiring spaces. Replete with 40 detailed narratives and 200 sublime photographs, the book leads readers from the university's flagship building Poetter Hall, to the panoply of SCAD architectural marvels around Savannah, and in Atlanta, Hong Kong and Lacoste.

14. SCAD Savannah Film Festival celebrates 20th anniversary: More than 50,000 film fans and industry insiders converged on Savannah for an unforgettable film festival featuring over 140 screenings amidst honorees Salma Hayek Pinault, John Boyega, Zoey Deutch, Richard Gere, Sir Patrick Stewart, Holly Hunter, Robert Pattinson, Willow Shields, Kyra Sedgwick, Aaron Sorkin and Andrea Riseborough.

15. Carlos Cruz-Diez has love, will travel: First at SCADMOA, then SCAD AT MIAMI, "Chroma," an exhibition by deFINE ART honoree Carlos Cruz-Diez, transported gallery-goers with its groundbreaking color theory in action. Designed as site-specific, "Chroma" proved as at home in Miami Beach as it was in Savannah. Bravo, maestro.

16. SCAD keeps student safe during major storm: With the September arrival of Hurricane Irma imminent, SCAD relocated more than 600 students and faculty from Savannah to its Atlanta campus. Students were given special tours of SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film and attended workshops taught by industry-leading SCAD faculty, who join the university from Dreamworks, Random House, Spanx, Alexander McQueen and Walt Disney Animation.

17. SCADfit opens inside the Hive: The university's emphasis health and wellness gained added traction with the opening of its new Savannah gym, SCADfit. The 12,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility, located within the Hive residence complex, offers fitness classes including ballet, Pilates and Zumba, and IC7 Indoor Cycles and Ciclotte monowheels. Sweat necessary, results guaranteed.

Thank you, dear SCADworks readers. See you in 2018!