Rosie Lenz

Prairie Home resident wins prestigious academic award from William Woods University

Rosemary Lenz, a senior at William Woods University (WWU) and a resident of Prairie Home, was honored with a prestigious academic award from the University as part of its year-end Co-Curricular Awards. At the end of each academic year, WWU recognizes a select group of graduating seniors who have achieved excellence in academic, co-curricular and service projects during their time at the University.

Lenz, who graduated this spring with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art, received the Faculty Award from the University.

The Faculty Award is the highest award given to a student by the University each year. It is presented to the 2022 graduating senior who, in the estimation of the faculty of the University, has evidenced exemplary devotion and commitment to the life of the mind. In order to be eligible, the student must be a graduating senior who has completed a minimum of 60 hours through William Woods University and has a minimum 3.75 grade point average.

During her five years at WWU, Lenz took many studio art, art history, and digital art courses, being awarded the Visual Arts Award for Artistic Originality by the University during her sophomore year. In 2018, she worked with another student and a WWU professor on a Mentor/Mentee project inspired by nature, texture and living organisms, and the resulting work was displayed at the Runge Conservation Nature Center in Jefferson City. During her fourth year, Lenz participated in a collaborative senior show entitled Unity, with her year-long research project comprised of tree limbs and woven materials. Her most recent works were displayed in a solo exhibition called Living A Life Of Lists, which included a ceramic installation, photo sculpture and a series of wheel-thrown vessels, that took place inside William Woods’ Dulany Library.

Lenz plans to continue her education at the University of Florida, earning a Master of Fine Arts in Sculpture. After graduate school, she looks forward to teaching art in higher education and continuing to create her own works.