District Five Student’s Artwork to be Featured on Catalogue
July 24, 2014
IRMO, SC – Artwork by a Lexington-Richland School District Five 2014 graduate has been chosen to be on the cover of an international education catalogue.
The painting by Irmo High School’s Alison Waldman will be published in the 2014-2015 IB Workshops and Resources Catalogue, a professional development tool for International Baccalaureate Program educators. A 2014 IB diploma candidate, Waldman already had received several awards and accolades for her artwork including: Gold Key, Silver Key and Honorable Mention for her drawings in the 2014 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards for the Southeast Region-at-Large and First Place in Group IV for Grades 10-12 in the 2014 South Carolina Junior Duck Stamp Competition. She graduated from Irmo High School in June.
“It’s been really exciting to know my art will appear on the cover,” Waldman said of the catalogue, which will also include a write-up about her. “The catalogue contacted the school. Then the school contacted me and asked for my permission to publish it, and of course I said yes. I think it’s really cool that it’s an international publication …it’s definitely an honor.”
An internationally recognized qualification, the International Baccalaureate program offers programs to students worldwide to help develop intellectual, personal, emotional and social skills through course work and projects. At Irmo High School, IB is a rigorous two-year program that includes 13 courses and action and service requirements. Students in the IB program at the District Five school have raised money for charities locally and worked on intercontinental projects. In addition to the IB program, Irmo High School is also launching its school-wide international arts magnet program, which will offer coursework through the lens of global visual and performing arts.
Principal David Riegel said both the IB Program and arts magnet help students like Waldman develop their skills and fuel their passions.
“We are so proud of Alison and all the students that raise the bar for their educational experiences here at our school,” he said. “Alison is a shining example of why Irmo High School has a bright future and of the quality of work that our students are capable of producing. Congratulations Alison.”
Waldman will attend Virginia Tech this fall, majoring in engineering. She says she feels well prepared thanks to Irmo High’s IB program and hopes the publication of her artwork is just the start of seeing her work on display.
“I’m thinking of being an art minor in college,” Waldman said. “If I do that, perhaps it will open the door for my work to be in galleries…I’m so grateful for all the teachers that helped and encouraged me. This is a really cool opportunity.”
