It's runway time! SCAD FASHION 2024 is happening this Thursday and Friday, May 16–17 in Savannah, promising two incredibly fashionable days of events and celebrations. The university's signature showcase of innovative sartorial collections by senior and graduate students in the prestigious SCAD School of Fashion is once again a highlight of the season.

SCAD FASHION festivities culminate in the highly anticipated runway show, which debuts Friday, May 17, at 8:30 p.m. ET, live from the SCAD Museum of Art. The university welcomes an international cadre of industry luminaries to witness the next generation of design. Fashion enthusiasts from around the globe can witness the university's unparalleled talent via livestream at scad.edu/fashion2024.

A notable afficionado of superlative runway shows, President Paula Wallace said: "SCAD invites design legends and lovers of fashion to the SCAD Museum of Art for a first look at the future of wearable art and cutting-edge couture created by SCAD designers. From today's catwalk to tomorrow's catalog, SCAD Bees shape culture. I'll see you on the runway as we celebrate in style on May 17!"

The SCAD FASHION 2024 runway show will be preceded by the world premiere of the university's latest fashion film, Déjà Rêvé, directed by Paris Mumpower (B.F.A., graphic design, 2016). Starring the multitalented performer Rainey Qualley alongside actor and model Ayden Behn (B.F.A. acting), Déjà Rêvé features imaginative garments, accessories, jewelry, and sneaker creations from more than 70 SCAD School of Fashion students. A collaboration with director of photography Nikita Carpenter (B.F.A., film and television, 2012), and with more than 100 SCAD creatives comprising the cast and crew, the film transports viewers to a surreal parallel reality through vignettes referencing classic cinema and French New Wave, brimming with beauty, color, and exuberant fashions. The live runway show will immediately follow the film, highlighting the artistry of more than 60 designers with 120 exceptional looks.

"This year I have been struck by the incredible level of storytelling our designers have brought to their collections," said Dirk Standen, Dean of the SCAD School of Fashion. "Whether their starting point is the poems of Edgar Allan Poe, new interpretations of cultural archetypes like cowboys, fishermen, and surfers, or the ways AI is transforming the world, they have created vivid, compelling, deeply researched narratives. That translates into richly detailed, highly imaginative, and quite stunning garments. I can't wait to see our students tell their stories on the runway at SCAD FASHION 2024."

As part of SCAD FASHION 2024 festivities, SCAD is also thrilled to present the coveted André Leon Talley Award, in honor of the beloved fashion luminary and cherished friend of the university, to Aurora James, founder and creative director of luxury accessories brand Brother Vellies. James, who is also a vice chair of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) and founder of the nonprofit advocacy organization Fifteen Percent Pledge, will be celebrated for her visionary leadership and global advocacy within the fashion industry and joined in conversation following the award presentation. SCAD will also bestow the prestigious SCAD45 Award to two outstanding SCAD alumni, Julian Robaire (B.F.A., fashion, 2013), director of Chanel's VIP atelier, and An Le (B.F.A., photography, 2012), co- founder of international creative lab Now Open, for their exemplary contributions to design. SCAD FASHION 2024 programming also includes the annual SCAD Jewelry Trunk Show, showcasing one-of-a-kind creations by SCAD jewelry students, Thursday, May 16, and Friday, May 17, at Poetter Hall.

SCAD's top-ranked School of Fashion is globally revered for offering one of the most elite and comprehensive programs in the world for undergraduate and graduate degrees in fashion, accessory design, jewelry, fashion marketing and management, fibers, and sneaker design. Learn more here.

The SCAD equestrian team won the 2024 Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA) Hunter Seat Team Championship on Sunday, May 5, capturing their fourth IHSA national title in school history. Nearly 500 collegiate athletes competed in the event, which took place at Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, North Carolina. 

SCAD sophomore Alex Alston earned two individual national titles, winning Champion in Dover Saddlery Individual Open Equitation Over Fences and Dover Saddlery Team Open Equitation on the Flat events. Alston also had the highest overall score as an Interscholastic Equestrian Association alumnus in the Over Fences event. Peter Cavagnac (B.F.A. advertising and branding) was named Champion in the Chronicle of the Horse Team Limit Equitation on the Flat event, while Kameron Riggs (B.F.A. performing arts) was named Champion in Team Introductory. 

"This is such a significant win for our team and equestrian program and for SCAD as the home of champions," said Head Coach Ashley Henry. “This season has been the culmination of so much hard work and passion. From the beginning, our SCAD equestrian team has focused on getting to Nationals and we are proud to bring this banner home once again." 

SCAD competed against some of the best collegiate equestrian teams in the country, defeating Sacred Heart University, Skidmore College, St. Lawrence University, Penn State University, and the University of Georgia to win the Hunter Seat Team Championship 

"I am incredibly proud of our SCAD equestrian team," said Director of Athletics Amanda Workman Haverstick. “Their success this season has been earned through dedication and outstanding leadership by Coach Henry and the equestrian staff, who have led the team, nurturing these true champions." 

SCAD individual rider results include:

• Alex Alston (Sophomore) - Champion Dover Saddlery Individual Open Equitation Over Fences, Champion Open Team Flat, Highest Overall Score Over Fences 
• Celia Cram (Junior) - USHJA High-Point Hunter Seat Rider, Presenting the Cacchione Cup, Reserve Champion, Reserve National Champion in the Dover Saddlery Individual Open Equitation Over Fences, 3rd Dover Saddlery Individual Open Equitation on the Flat, 3rd Dover Saddlery Team Open Equitation Over Fences 
•  Hattie Bradford (Sophomore) - 4th Horseware Ireland Team Intermediate Equitation Over Fences, 4th Horseware Ireland Team Intermediate Equitation on the Flat, 4th The Chronicle of the Horse Individual Limit Equitation Over Fences 
•  Peter Cavagnac (Freshman) - Champion The Chronicle of the Horse Team Limit Equitation on the Flat, 7th The Chronicle of the Horse Team Limit Equitation Over Fences 
•  Karma Redman (Junior) - 8th The Chronicle of the Horse Team Limit Equitation on the Flat 
•  Carly Vujakovich (Senior) - 9th Individual Novice Equitation on the Flat 
•  Lexie Stoebenau (Sophomore) - 3rd Team Novice Equitation on the Flat 
•  Kameron Riggs (Sophomore) - Champion Team Introductory Equitation 
•  Chloe Lakloufi (Senior) - 4th Individual Introductory Equitation 

In April, SCAD took home the top trophy at the IHSA Collegiate Cup Zone 5 Team Championship, opening the gate for the team to advance to Nationals. 

Throughout this record-breaking season, SCAD has dominated with four Team National Championship wins: Overall Tournament of Champions National Title, American National Riding Commission (ANRC) Novice Division National Title and Reserve, ANRC National Division National Title, and Reserve and IHSA Collegiate National Title. The Bees were also the Collegiate Cup Champions in 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2024, and the Reserve Champion in 2018, 2019, and 2023, establishing an elite equestrian program unlike any other. The SCAD equestrian team has been led by head coach and SCAD alum, Ashley Henry, since 2005.   

For more information on SCAD athletics, visit savannah.scadathletics.com. 

The SCAD women's lacrosse team won the 2024 Sun Conference Championship on Saturday, April 20, scoring the last two goals of the game to defeat archrivals Keiser University 13-12 in a match to be remembered. It is the team's second consecutive Sun Conference championship. SCAD is the only women's team to take home this title since lacrosse became a Sun Conference sport two years ago.

"This was an unforgettable win for our SCAD women's lacrosse team, and they played with so much heart to bring this championship home," said head coach Melody Shotwell, NAIA 2023 Coach of the Year. "Now we are looking forward to what's ahead, which is the 2024 NAIA National Championship being played right here in Savannah beginning May 1."

Update: In their first game of the NAIA Championship, SCAD vanquished Indiana Tech 15-4, behind a stunning seven-goal performance by Clarke Haas.

At the conclusion of the Sun Conference tournament, Clarke Haas (B.F.A. business of beauty and fragrance), Lorna Fowles (B.F.A., animation), Grace Gibson (B.F.A., business of beauty and fragrance), Annise Berkeley (B.F.A., advertising and branding), and Keagan Plume (B.F.A., architecture) were all named to the 2024 All-Tournament Team. Haas also received the notable Tournament MVP honor.

The season has seen a remarkable turnaround for the team. After losing five of their first eight matches this season, SCAD has since gone undefeated, and is currently on an 11-game winning streak.

SCAD will compete at the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Women's Lacrosse National Championship, May 1-4 in Savannah, Georgia at historic Memorial Stadium.

This year's NAIA Women's Lacrosse National Championship will include teams from Missouri Baptist University, Reinhardt University, Indiana Tech, Benedictine College, Lawrence Technological University, Keiser University, and University of the Cumberlands.

Tickets to the games are available for purchase through the SCAD Box Office. All the action will be broadcast live on Hudl TV, the official streaming home of the NAIA Women's Lacrosse National Championship.

For more information on SCAD athletics, visit savannah.scadathletics.com. 

The weather was sublime, the turnout tremendous, and the chalk art beyond compare. The 43rd edition of beloved Sidewalk Arts festival brought SCAD Family and Alumni Weekend to its colorful culmination on Saturday, April 27, 2024, for a beautiful day in Forsyth Park.
 
This year, as SCAD celebrates its 45th anniversary, Sidewalk Arts "Star Power" prizes were given to a student and an alumnus for the best chalk art that celebrates SCAD at 45. Sidewalk Arts prizes were also awarded for Best of Show, Best Student Individual, Student Group, Graduate Student, and Alumni chalk art.
 
And the winners are….

 
Best of Show: Isabella Kiely (B.F.A., illustration) and Chris Demassa (B.F.A., user experience design).
 

SCAD Star Power (students): Sophie Hill (B.F.A., illustration) and Morgen Votaw (B.F.A., illustration).
 

SCAD Star Power (alumni): Lexi Mangieri (B.F.A, illustration, 2012).
 

Best Student Individual: Caitlin O’Toole (B.F.A., illustration).
 

Best Student Group: Sam Doejaaren (B.F.A., film and television) and Cole Patnoad (B.F.A., illustration).
 

Best Graduate Student: Zihan Zhang (M.F.A., illustration) and Yuchan Yang (M.F.A., illustration) aka Happy Puppy Group.
 

Best Alumni: Will Penny (M.F.A., painting, 2013).
 

See the full gallery with the rest of the winners at Sidewalk Arts 2024!

Thanks for everyone who made the day a resounding success. See you next year!

Choose your chalk, champions! It's time for the SCAD Sidewalk Arts Festival this Saturday, April 27 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Forsyth Park. The treasured annual tradition brings together students, alumni, and the local community for the greatest outdoor art event in Savannah's spring schedule.

"SCAD Sidewalk Arts Festival holds a dear place in my heart, as it was our university's first major event to host, ever," says President Paula Wallace. "What began more than 40 years ago as a public showcase for SCAD talent on the sidewalks of Bull Street and Madison Square has grown into Savannah's largest single-day outdoor event, filling Forsyth Park with tens of thousands of creatively energized students, alumni, families, neighbors, schoolchildren, and guests. The entire glorious park comes alive for an entire day with sweet SCAD vibes."

SCAD students, alumni, and local high school students will transform historic Forsyth Park into a technicolor landscape of chalk compositions, as more than 800 squares that traverse the park will serve as concrete canvases for the day.

This year SCAD is celebrating 45 years of Star Power at Sidewalk Arts. Prizes will be awarded for Best of Show, Best Student Individual, Student Group, Graduate Student, and Alumni chalk art. Prizes will also be given this year to a student and an alumnus for the best chalk art that celebrates SCAD's 45th Anniversary. Competitors will use materials approved for SCAD Sidewalk Arts Festival entries.

Thousands of attendees, including SCAD faculty and staff, local Savannahians, and visitors to the city will come downtown for this event, shop in local stores, and dine in local restaurants. This event, like so many SCAD signature events, has a huge economic impact on Savannah. According to a 2019 study conducted by Tripp Umbach, the leading national consulting firm for not-for-profit, arts, and tourism sectors, SCAD generates $1billion annually for the Savannah area.

SCAD's elite performance ensemble The Bee Sharps will perform a 90-minute concert starting at 1:30 p.m. Food vendors will include Leopold's Ice Cream, Chick-fil-A, Maui Wowi Hawaiian Coffees & Smoothies, BowTie Barbeque, Roly Poly, Java Burrito, and Savannah Square Pops.

This year's Sidewalk Arts Festival is sponsored by Bon Appetit, Brightview Landscaping, Doki Doki Ice Creamery, Ex Libris, Sunstates Security, The Kicklighter Company, Samet, Savannah Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Visit Savannah, and Yates-Astro. Festival attendants are encouraged to share their imagination and creativity through Instagram using #SCADChalk.

See you there!

"We like to say we build fans and our fans are our biggest sellers," said amika creative director Matthew Stetson, referring to his haircare company’s devotees, during a panel at SCADstyle 2024. With its "retro-modern" aesthetic, amika has seen exponential recent growth, though the brand has been around for nearly a decade and a half. "It’s become this community that’s bigger than just one product or one piece of content or one product launch," Stetson added.

Centerstage before a SCAD MOA theater audience of mostly (but not only!) business of beauty and fragrance and LXFM students, Stetson was joined in conversation by Glossier’s chief creative officer Marie Suter for Beauty Ritual: The New Chemistry of Branding, hosted by SCAD chair Dominica Baird. Over a good-natured, fast-flowing hour, they discussed topics including social media scrapes, brick-and-mortar retail, and the astonishing quantity of assets needed to launch even a single product.

Baird, previously Global Director of Trends and Digital Innovation at Maybelline (L'Oréal), asked a key question: "How do you get people to grow with you as a brand?"

Suter, who has led visual strategy at Glossier, Inc. since 2018, referenced the brand's original vision , which means "staying who you are and not shifting through trends."

Glossier's Marie Suter breaks it down.

"Because of the way Glossier started [in 2014, as an offshoot of the blog Into the Gloss by Emily Weiss] and the way it has changed the industry, there is truly the potential for it to be a lasting iconic brand," Suter continued. "[We have] the aspiration of a hundred-year brand that’s created in true belief and emotion rather than just to sell products and make money."

Stetson agreed. "We never wanted to be a trend-based brand," he said. "At our core, much like Glossier, we are our people. Anyone who uses amika products, they really love them. People come up to me: ‘I love the masks! I love the dry shampoo! I love the scent!’ For campaigns we do our model-casting in that community. Not only are we hiring people who represent the brand but they’re super passionate about the product. That’s important because it builds authenticity — not just about the brand, but among the community themselves."

Both Stetson and Suter emphasized that their brands are not chasing the Gen Z demographic, or any age range for that matter; the in-common development strategy is to appeal across multiple generations.

"We never feel like we’re talking to a single audience," Suter said. "It’s more of a sentiment. It’s more valid, the sentiment you want to be part of, than being a certain age. There is a passion at a younger age for beauty that Glossier is very well-positioned for, because it’s not heavy makeup, it’s very easy. Yet we have an array of product—we have skin care, we have body, we have perfume—that allows for a wider range of potential generations."

Stetson nodded. "From the beginning, amika’s tagline has been ‘All Hair is Welcome.’ It’s not about age, it’s not about a hair type, it’s about this is what I need for my hair at this time in my life, and that changes, just like skin care."

Baird facilitated a round of questions from students in the audience. Vibes were high. Everyone left with beauty brand wisdom, and as a fan of SCADstyle 2024.

Thanks to everyone who came out fror SCADstyle 2024!

"We disagree on a lot of things, and I think that's good," said Danial Aitouganov, nodding towards his zomer co-founder Imruh Asha, seated beside him on the stage of the SCAD MOA theater. "We make a point to always speak to each other with respect," Asha added, grinning. "That's because you know I'm sensitive," Aitouganov replied.
 
Funny, friendly, focused, and foregrounding their inextricable personal and professional connection, the conversation between Aitouganov (gold tooth, green slippers) and Asha (red vest, smoky glasses) at SCADstyle 2024 drew a full house of students from degree programs including fashion, fibers, and luxury and brand management.
 
Hosted by Family Style founder and Editor-in-Chief Joshua Glass, the talk—titled "Party People: Feeding the Fantasy"—covered topics ranging from deadstock fabric to TikTok trends and the value of going to museums with friends. Glass began by drawing out details from the friendship between Aitouganov and Asha, which began in Amsterdam, where Danial attended art school and Imruh worked as a stylist, before they relocated to Paris and founded their brand.
 

Zomer wowed with at Paris Fashion Week in September 2023, when Aitouganov and Asha sent their mini-me doppelgangers cavorting down the runway in their debut collection. (Doubling down, they also dressed childhood lookalikes of Anna Wintour and Grace Coddington as part of an entire campaign.) Glass expressed admiration that explosive interest has fortified the founders' principles.

"We are always looking for a balance between conceptual and commercial," Aitouganov said. "When we think of our customer we wonder, what would she wear? You need to say something with your clothes." Added Asha: "It's an ongoing conversation."
 
As an experiential lifestyle brand, zomer (Dutch for "summer") delivers garments that radiate positivity, humor and joy. Detachable flaps feature. They are not afraid of polka dots.
 
"When you put out your great first collection, then everyone's like, What's next?" Glass said, while pointing out that zomer is already designing for Spring/Summer 2025.
 
Aitouganov and Asha mentioned a potential future foray into menswear, and the importance of celebrating success amidst the rush, noting two early high water marks: having zomer carried at Bergdorf Goodman, and Bjork wearing their one-off wood sculpture dress onstage.
 
Glass nudged them to offer tips to SCAD students preparing senior thesis collections.

Stylish SCADstyle souls (l-r): Glass, Aitouganov and Asha. 

"This is the time for you to dive into your own desires and really have fun with it," said Aitouganov. "Your graduation year is like the last year when you can really be yourself, because once you go into the industry, you will work for a creative director and you will work with someone else's vision. It's always super important to have a personal subject. You need to be happy with your collection."
 
"Having peers around you that you can talk about what matters to you is really important," Asha said. "Meeting people with the same values is important, and art school makes it easier to create that network."
 
"We took the SCAD tour yesterday and I wish I was here, guys, this school is amazing," Aitouganov said. "We were talking in the green room that maybe we should take a course here at SCAD," added Asha with an awed nod.
 
The students cheered this suggestion wildly, the theater as vibrant as a zomer collection.

They say SCAD signature events never go out of style — and none stays hip like SCADstyle. Now in its 18th year, the dynamic four-day event in Savannah (April 8-10) and Atlanta (April 10-11) unites design and lifestyle leaders for insightful conversations exclusive to SCAD. An inquiry into fashion, interior design, graphic design, illustration, beauty, advertising, and more, SCADstyle promises career-making networking opportunities with iconoclasts shaping the future of design.

"I created SCADstyle to take our students BTS with today's foremost artrepreneurs and designers," says President Paula Wallace. "A beautiful bill of rockstars headline this year's festival for four days of master classes and convos—including the one and only Wes Gordon, receiving the coveted SCAD Étoile Award. Bees studying fashion, beauty, architecture, interiors, and beyond swarm SCADstyle for inspo on charting a career in design, harnessing social media, leapfrogging and leveraging AI, and more. I invite every Bee and friend of SCAD to seize every synergistic second of SCADstyle 2024!"

SCADstyle 2024 celebrates the culture, innovation, and global voices transforming all facets of design. Featured SCADstyle guests include Francesco Risso, creative director of Marni; Hillary Taymour, founder and creative director at Collina Strada; Craig Robins, co-founder of Design Miami/; Waterworks co-founder and SVP Barbara Sallick; architect, interior designer, and founder of Jayne Design Studio Thomas Jayne; fashion designer Ludovic de Saint Sernin; photographer Michael Bailey-Gates; editor, curator, and art consultant Stefano Tonchi; co-founder and partner of Yabu Pushelberg George Yabu; chief creative officer of Glossier Marie Suter; creative director of amika Matthew Stetson; Washington Post fashion journalist Rachel Tashjian; and fashion writer Charlie Porter.

Event highlights include a conversation between Whitewall editor-in-chief Katy Donoghue and Craig Redman, artist and illustrator of design duo Craig & Karl, and a discussion with zomer founders and designers Danial Aitouganov and Imruh Asha hosted by Family Style editor-in-chief Joshua Glass. 

SCADstyle 2024 also showcases the stellar achievements of the university's impressive alumni during the Alumni Voices panel featuring Emily Smith (B.F.A., fashion, 2001), creative director of Lafayette 148 New York; furniture and lighting designer Lulu LaFortune (B.F.A., furniture design, 2018); and Kan Ando (B.F.A, fashion, 2010), senior designer at Nike.

In honor of the university's milestone 45th anniversary, the trio will be presented with the prestigious SCAD45 Alumni Award for their exemplary contributions to their professions and for demonstrating the prominence and purpose of a SCAD education. More than 18 of the university's top-ranked degree programs are represented in SCADstyle 2024 programming, including fashion, accessory design, interior design, graphic design, industrial design, advertising and branding, illustration, furniture design, architecture, and photography. 

SCADstyle 2024 events are free and open to the public.
For a full list of events and more information, visit scad.edu/scadstyle.

SCAD presents Manish Arora: Life Is Beautiful at SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film in Atlanta. Life Is Beautiful is Arora's first museum exhibition and presents more than 100 bold creations from his runway collections, exclusive collaborations, and looks worn by an international cadre of celebrity clients from Bollywood to Hollywood. The exhibition, curated by SCAD FASH creative director Rafael Gomes, opened Wednesday, March 27 with SCAD students and the global press in attendance.

Life Is Beautiful showcases the exquisite garments that have earned Arora international acclaim as one of India's greatest design talents. The works on view display his signature aesthetic fusing techniques of Indian craftsmanship, such as hand-embroidery, beading, and appliqué, with Western styles and eclectic motifs in an explosion of color. An immersion in Arora's kaleidoscopic world, Life Is Beautiful features looks worn by loyal clients and admirers such as Priyanka Chopra, Lady Gaga, Nicki Minaj, Kate Moss, Aishwarya Rai, M.I.A., Katy Perry, and more.

"Manish Arora has been famously called the ‘John Galliano of India,' and while the two share a profound gift for satire and the spectacular, Arora stands on his own in every conceivable way," said SCAD President Paula Wallace. "His oeuvre finds the perfect home in SCAD FASH, where fans of fashion and film luxuriate in an exhibition nonpareil, full of joy and celebration. India's greatest designer ascends triumphant in the greatest fashion museum in the U.S.!"

Arora established his namesake label in 1997 after graduating from the National Institute of Fashion Technology in New Delhi. His vivid collections and fanciful designs earned immediate international attention. In 2007, Arora was invited to show at Paris Fashion Week, becoming the first Indian designer to receive this honor. He was recognized as a member of the Chambre Syndicale du Prêt-à-Porter des Couturiers et des Créateurs de Model and has since presented at Fashion Weeks in London, Hong Kong, and Miami. Arora served as creative director for Paco Rabbane, and throughout his career he has designed exclusive collaborations with the world's leading brands including Swarovski, Reebok, Swatch, Disney, Paris Saint-Germain F.C., MAC, and Nespresso.

"I consider myself an artist, and Life Is Beautiful invites students and viewers of all ages into my magical fantasy world bursting with color, happiness, joy, and love," Arora said. "It is a dream come true to see my creations in the first museum exhibition dedicated to my work and to be the first Indian designer featured at SCAD FASH. I am honored to inspire the next generations of artists at SCAD and grateful to Paula Wallace and Rafael Gomes for the university's vision and dedication to championing the beauty of diverse and global cultures."

Rafael Gomes, curator and creative director of SCAD FASH, explained how the exhibition has honed a legacy of exhibitions embracing diverse cultures and design practices: "Manish Arora is a storyteller, and his collections narrate India's rich sartorial history with a worldly point of view infused with joy and humor. We are delighted to celebrate and present his vibrant and imaginative world to SCAD's international students and community."

SCAD FASH hosted an exclusive opening reception featuring a conversation with Arora on his incredible career. SCAD students from many of the university's top-ranked degree programs — including fashion, accessory design, luxury and brand management, photography, and illustration — engaged with the designer directly. SCAD is the preeminent university for art and design, with an international student body representing more than 120 countries. SCAD fashion graduates will also take on the SCAD Alumni x Manish Arora Design Challenge, envisioned by SCAD President Paula Wallace. Alumni designers will create one-of-a-kind garments that express the beauty of life. The winner, selected by Arora, will be awarded an honorarium for creativity and design innovation.

Manish Arora: Life Is Beautiful is on view at SCAD FASH Atlanta through Aug. 18, 2024.

Arora photo: Colin Douglas Gray / / Banner image: Tarun Khiwal

The SCAD men's and women's bowling teams both won the 2024 NAIA National Championship Titles on Saturday, March 23. The women's team took home their third consecutive national championship, and the men earned their first championship win in program history.

"The winning moments for both the men's and women's championships really were the culmination of a group of individuals coming together to achieve something bigger than themselves," said SCAD bowling head coach Katie Thornton. "Our teams embraced a ‘We Over Me' mentality that allowed their hard work on the lanes to shine and give them the chance to raise the trophy."

The 2024 tournaments took place at 5 Star Lanes in Sterling Heights, Michigan, with the three-day competition consisting of 24 Baker matches to determine seeding in double-elimination match play. The Baker format means the players all contribute to a single tally or scoreline, emphasizing the team nature of the competition.

"I am enormously proud of our men's and women's bowling teams," said SCAD Savannah Director of Athletics Amanda Workman Haverstick. "For the women to win their third consecutive NAIA National Championship is an amazing accomplishment and they did so in dominating fashion the entire week. The men's team persevered to win three matches on the final day, showing determination and grit to come away with the title. We are so fortunate to have head coach Katie Thornton and assistant coach Mike Conn leading our program."
 

The women's bowling team had a stellar performance with several players honored: First Team All-American Lara Kurt (B.F.A., UX design), and Second Team All-American notables Addy Nelson (M.F.A., design management) and Yumi Yuzuriha (B.F.A., film and television). Nelson was also named Tournament MVP.

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) also announced the 2024 Daktronics NAIA Women's Bowling Scholar Athletes. SCAD Bees totaled three honorees including Grace Bringham (B.F.A., interior design), Raina Davis (B.F.A., interior design), and Yumi Yuzuriha (B.F.A., film and television). SCAD also swept the Southern States Athletic Conference individual awards, with SSAC Mike Conn (SCAD bowling assistant coach) being named Coach of the Year and Lara Kurt being named Player of the Year.

The men's team fought hard for the championship title and continued to set records with players Julian Salinas (B.F.A., UX design) and Tyrell Ingalls (B.F.A., sound design) being named to the NAIA National Championship All-Tournament Team, and Ingalls being named the Tournament MVP. The NAIA also shared the 2024 Daktronics NAIA Men's Bowling Scholar Athletes which included five SCAD bee honorees: Diego Aguilar (B.F.A., sound design), Camdyn Drexel (B.F.A., film and television), Julian Salinas (B.F.A., UX design), Leoj Chin (B.F.A., UX design) and Connor Bishop (B.F.A., social strategy and management). 

"This accomplishment is so meaningful to SCAD students, alumni, parents, and supporters and would not be possible without the administration and staff we have in Savannah," said Coach Thornton.

The 2024 national championships mark the latest accomplishments for the program under Thornton, who started at SCAD as the first head coach during SCAD Bowling's inaugural season in 2015. Thornton, the 2013 NAIA Collegiate Player of the Year, and holder of an M.B.A. in international business, was named NAIA men's bowling Coach of Year in 2018 and 2022, as well as the 2022 NCBCA Men's Coach of the Year, becoming the first woman in history to do so. With the program's emphasis on positive, familial culture grounded in support and care, SCAD Bowling has become a national powerhouse.

Next up, the SCAD Bowling teams will compete at the Intercollegiate Team Championships, April 17-20 in Jeffersontown, Kentucky. 

For more information on SCAD athletics, visit savannah.scadathletics.com.

Championship images credit: Mariusz Nowak Photography