Alumni Success

CCAD grads shape culture and commerce around the globe. Our annual alumni awards recognize these creative and artistic achievements.

What are the CCAD Alumni Awards?

Each year, Columbus College of Art & Design recognizes alumni who are making their mark through creative work, leadership, and innovation. Whether building businesses, shaping industries, or opening doors for the next generation, these graduates show how a CCAD education continues to create opportunities long after graduation.

What began more than 40 years ago with the Joseph V. Canzani Alumni Award for Excellence has grown to celebrate emerging leaders, community changemakers, and creative entrepreneurs. Nominated by fellow alumni, faculty, staff, students, and community members, these honorees reflect the strength of CCAD's creative network and the lasting influence of alumni who continue to move their fields, and each other, forward.

Nominations are open at a later date.

2026 ALUMNI AWARD WINNERS

Emerging Artist Award

larí garcía
(Fine Arts, 2017)

larí garcía is a Mexico City-based artist and independent scholar whose work explores grief and loss through traditions of mysticism and ghostly matters. Working primarily in sculpture, garcía examines contemporary beliefs surrounding extinction, endangerment, and illegality. Their work has been exhibited internationally, including in Mexico City and Houston. They have participated in prestigious artist residencies at MASS MoCA and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and received a Creative Research Grant from the Foundation for Contemporary Arts.

Community Impact Award

Greg Frost
(Advertising Design, 1983)

Greg Frost has spent more than 40 years preserving historic buildings and the craftsmanship behind them. Raised with an influential steeplejack background, Frost combined his early experience working on towering structures with the creative skills he developed at CCAD to build a career in architectural restoration. As president of Frost Architectural Preservation, Inc., he takes pride in protecting historic landmarks while creating meaningful employment opportunities and helping skilled craftspeople build lasting careers.

Joseph V. Canzani Alumni Award for Excellence

John Jude Palencar
(Illustration, 1980)

John Jude Palencar has spent more than 45 years creating award-winning artwork for hundreds of novels, with book covers published in more than 30 countries. His clients include major publishers, National Geographic, and Paramount Pictures. His distinctive paintings have earned prestigious honors from the Society of Illustrators, including the Hamilton King Award, and recognition from the American Watercolor Society. Palencar's work has been exhibited internationally and is held in private collections worldwide.

Core Values Award

Richard E. McGill
(Illustration, 1988)

Richard E. McGill is a creative leader and educator whose career includes more than 27 years in corporate design and 23 years of military leadership. He has held creative roles with Hallmark Cards, Polaroid Corporation, and Hasbro Toys, developing products that connect people and inspire imagination. Today, McGill teaches middle school visual arts, drawing on his diverse experiences to help students build confidence, develop creative skills, and discover their potential through art.

Previous Honorees

A look back at our alumni award winners from throughout the decades.

Our longest-running honor, the Joseph V. Canzani Alumni Award for Excellence, has recognized extraordinary CCAD graduates since 1962.

Here’s a look at our past honorees:

  • 2025 - Paul Kashuk Jr. (Illustration, 1993)

  • 2024 - Olivia Pendergast (Illustration, 1993)

  • 2022 - Albert Wong (Fine Arts, 1970)

  • 2021 - Ron Miller (Illustration, 1970)

  • 2020 - Douglas Bell (Illustration, 1989)

  • 2019 - Manjari Sharma (Media Studies, Photography, 2004)

  • 2018 - Tony West (Illustration, 1989)

  • 2017 - Michael Flechtner (Fine Arts, 1981)

  • 2016 - Derek Fansler (Fine Arts, 1995)

  • 2015 - Steven Hubbard (Time Based Media Studies, 2010)

  • 2014 - Inka Essenhigh (Fine Arts, 1991)

  • 2013 - Chad Hunt (Photography, 1994)

  • 2012 - Dan Scanlon (Illustration, 1998)

  • 2011 - Nathan Greno (Illustration, 1996)

  • 2010 - Rosanne Percivalle (Illustration, 1980)

  • 2009 - Aaron Szymanski (Industrial Design, 1991)

  • 2008 - Joan Hall (Fine Arts, 1974)

  • 2007 - Ron Tsang (Industrial Design, 1983)

  • 2006 - Jeff Link (Advertising & Graphic Design, 1969) (awarded posthumously)

  • 2003 - William "BJ" Van de Velde (Advertising & Graphic Design, 1961)

  • 2002 - Charles O'Connor (Industrial Design, 1962)

  • 2001 - Dean Mitchell (Illustration, 1980)

  • 2000 - Edmund Kuehn (Fine Arts, 1938)

  • 1999 - Wucius Wong (1965)

  • 1994 - Dean Mitchell (Illustration, 1980)

  • 1994 - James C. Lutz (Advertising & Graphic Design, 1978)

  • 1994 - Linzy Randolph

  • 1993 - Mary Lou Alpert (1956 – 60)

  • 1992 - Ruth Anne Johnson (Illustration, 1965 – 70)

  • 1992 - Chris Snell (Advertising & Graphic Design, 1972)

  • 1991 - Daniel Thomas Chrzanowski (Illustration, 1970)

  • 1991 - George Gaadt (Illustration, 1966)

  • 1991 - Dean Kette (1959)

  • 1991 - George Kinney

  • 1991 - Ann Rothan (Fine Arts, 1992)

  • 1990 - Arthur Klemushin (Illustration, 1966)

  • 1990 - Doug Anderson (Illustration, 1942)

  • 1990 - Ming Fay (Industrial Design, 1965)

  • 1990 - James F. Lutz (Advertising & Graphic Design, 1978)

  • 1990 - Beverly Jane Niffenegger (Advertising & Graphic Design, 1977)

  • 1990 - Marcia Tabler (Retail Advertising, 1974)

  • 1989 - Kenneth Batista (Fine Arts, 1975)

  • 1989 - Robert Bender (Advertising & Graphic Design, 1966)

  • 1989 - George Radway (Fine Arts, 1938)

  • 1989 - Clyde Singer (1934)

  • 1989 - Wucius Wong (1965)

  • 1988 - Stanley Ray Corfman (Advertising & Graphic Design, 1960)

  • 1988 - James Grimes (Industrial Design, 1963)

  • 1988 - Margaret Lynn (1935)

  • 1988 - Thomas O'Donnell (1955)

  • 1988 - Jack Shinn (Fine Arts, 1942)

  • 1988 - Marilyn Skeffington (Advertising & Graphic Design, 1969)

  • 1987 - Frank Hoffelt

  • 1987 - Dorothy Neill (1937)

  • 1987 - Charles O'Connor (Industrial Design, 1962)

  • 1987 - Bernard Stockwell (Industrial Design, 1948)

  • 1987 - B. J. Van de Velde (Advertising & Graphic Design, 1961)

  • 1982 - Jerry McDaniel (Illustration, 1957)

This award celebrates the outstanding achievements of graduates who have studied at the institution within the last 10 years and have displayed remarkable potential, leadership, and excellence in their chosen field.

  • 2025 - Shelby Reed (Advertising & Graphic Design, 2021)

  • 2024 - Cameron Granger (Cinematic Arts, 2016)

  • 2022 - Joshua Walz (Advertising & Graphic Design, 2016)

  • 2021 - Kilee Price (Fine Arts, 2016)

  • 2020 - Lalese “Lolly” Stamps (Advertising & Graphic Design, 2017)

  • 2019 - Michael G. Manes (BFA Painting/Art History, 2009)

  • 2018 - Ali Prater (Advertising & Graphic Design, 2013)

  • 2017 - Colleen Clark (Illustration, 2014)

This award honors the personal and/or professional commitment to the betterment of a community through philanthropy, advocacy, and/or volunteerism.

  • 2025 - Tia Whittney (Fashion Design, 2011)

  • 2024 - Erin Iozzi (Media Studies Still-Based, 2003)

  • 2022 - Lori Sayre (Advertising & Graphic Design, 1995]

  • 2021 - Rachael Santillan (Media Studies Still-Based, 2000)

  • 2020 - Krista Sison (Fashion Design, 2013)

  • 2019 - Paul Richmond (Illustration, 2002)

  • 2018 - Michael McFalls (Fine Arts, 1998

  • 2017 - Marshall Shorts (Industrial Design & Advertising & Graphic Design, 2006)

This award honors a graduate who exemplifies all of CCAD's Core Values—Positivity,

Respect, Accountability, and Inspiration—and whose contributions to their community are not only creative but outstanding. Unlike the other alumni awards, the Core Values Award may not be awarded every year and is chosen by the Award Selection Committee.

  • 2022 - David Brane (Illustration, 2005)

  • 2021 - Lara Alsoudani Weeks (Advertising & Graphic Design, 2015)

  • 2019 - Bob Barner (Illustration Major, Advertising Minor, 1970)

  • 2018 - AG Ford (Illustration, 2007)

Active from 2017 to 2022, this award honored significant contributions a graduate made to a business, public, or non-profit organization, with preference given to an individual who has started a business or non-profit.

  • 2022 - Cathy Ann Johnson-Conforto (Illustration, 1989)

  • 2021 - Max Ulichney (Media Studies Time-Based, 2004)

  • 2020 - Emily Kellett (Industrial Design, 2016) & Brian Kellett (Media Studies Still-Based, 2007)

  • 2019 - Susana Madrid (Fashion Design, 2010)

  • 2018 - Sugandh G. Agrawal (Industrial Design, 2005)

  • 2017 - Paula Froehle (Fine Arts, 1987)

Active from 2017 to 2022, the Arts Educator Award honored the exceptional skill and clear commitment to the field of art education.

  • 2022 - Kymberly C. Moreland-Garnett (Fine Arts, 1991)

  • 2021 - Peter Wachtel (Industrial Design, 1990)

  • 2020 - William Potter (Fine Arts, 199

  • 2019 - Soo Sunny Park (Fine Arts, 1998)

  • 2018 - Aubrey Jewel Rodgers (Time-Based Media, 2000)

  • 2017 - Jon Keith Swindell (Illustration, 1973)

Volunteering your expertise, experience, and talents to a nonprofit group serving the community is a gift you give to them and to yourself… Seeing the real results of that connection in the form of human betterment and transformation has been the most rewarding part of my career. I am super proud and humbled to be recognized for those efforts.

Lori Sayre (Advertising & Graphic Design) 2021 Commitment to Service Award recipient

Alumni Success Stories

See what our alumni are creating and how they are shaping the future of commerce and culture.
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ALUMNI ADVISORY BOARD

Are you an alumnus looking to make an impact on future CCAD students? We value your firsthand experience and input.

CCAD ALUMNI ADVISORY BOARD