Written by Emilie Kefalas
Photographed by Angie Stong
Hard work and perseverance were rewarded Friday afternoon at Poetter Hall when the SCAD Equestrian team and Fashion and Interior Design programs were recognized as number one in their respective fields. SCAD President and Founder Paula Wallace took to the podium in the room to honor each program’s achievements, and also encouraged well-earned celebration within the different departments.
“I think that today we are really crowning all of you with your laurel wreaths, but I know also at the same time that you do not rest on your laurels, because every year I see you getting better and better and doing more and more and more, so thank you for your faculty and staff who support your work,” Wallace said.
Wallace acknowledged the event as a time for the students, faculty, and staff in attendance to pat themselves on the back for a job well done. SCAD alumni were also spotlighted for their efforts in paving the way in their professions for current students and recent graduates. Wallace said she constantly hears how SCAD alumni establish strong reputations in the real world.
“I can’t wait to see what happens next, because I know you’re just going to keep taking it to higher and higher levels,” Wallace said.
SCAD Athletics Director, Doug Wollenburg, said he is very proud of the Equestrian team’s continuous feats at national competitions and representing SCAD as more than just a design institution.
“It’s an outstanding group,” Wollenburg said. “We do a great job of representing the college. I think that at this point in athletics, we’re moving in a very positive direction. All of our teams are excelling and winning.”
Wollenburg, who began his path with SCAD as Head Coach of the baseball team for eleven years, said he has been involved with SCAD Athletics for almost fifteen years. This year marks his fourth as Athletic Director.
“We’re a unique college, art and design college, committed to excellence in the classroom, but we’re also committed to excellence on the athletic playing fields,” Wollenburg said. “We want to win national championships. We want to be best in all areas, and we’re very proud of our artist athletes.”
Equestrian team Head Coach, Ashley Henry, was both excited and honored to be recognized by SCAD along with Fashion and Interior Design.
“It’s really amazing that SCAD’s recognizing us, but to be able to have a big celebration, have other people at SCAD see it as well is really exciting,” Henry said.
Half of the Equestrian team is majoring in Equestrian Studies, but a variety of majors including photography and industrial design make up the rest of the team, Henry said. For Henry, the most rewarding part of coaching her Triple Crown Champion team is to watch every member succeed and develop not just as riders but as students and designers.
“We’ve been having a huge growth, which is phenomenal, not just with the team but with the equestrian studies program as well,” Henry said.
Henry was on the team herself from 2001 through 2005 as a jewelry design major at SCAD, and she has remained with the program as a coach since she graduated. A team captain when she was on the Equestrian team as a student, Henry said it has been a phenomenal experience watching the program grow over the years.
One of Henry’s biggest goals for the program was to see it develop as an athletic program, and also let everybody at SCAD see that those involved with the team are athletes who work hard to achieve their goals.
“It’s not something that’s easy that’s given to us,” Henry said. “So we really have been trying as hard as we can, and it’s really beneficial when it’s developed as much as it has.”
Apart from athletics, SCAD’s Interior Design program was honored for being ranked number one in the nation by DesignIntelligence. Interior Design Professor Deborah Brooks said she feels positive about the future of interior design, calling it a “global industry.” One that continues to develop and expand.
“I think being number one for five years in a row is awesome any time,” Brooks said. “We have such talented faculty, and I think it’s just going to keep getting better and better. It’s really good to have strong people who know each other from here who are out there now, and they’re still a network.”
