Above: Sarah Rhea and Joshua Edgar, both art students at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College’s Jackson County Campus, stand with their art instructor, Marc Poole. Rhea won a scholarship to the prestigious Memphis College of Art and Edgar won first place at the Mississippi Community/Junior College Art Instructor Association art show.

Two Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College students won significant awards for their artwork recently. Sarah Rhea and Joshua Edgar are both art students at the college’s Jackson County Campus. Rhea won a $61,000 scholarship to the prestigious Memphis College of Art. Edgar won first place at the Mississippi Community/Junior College Art Instructor Association (MCJCAIA) exhibit in the 2D Design category.

Rhea completed her art basics – Drawing I and II, Design I and II, and Computer Art – last fall at MGCCC. She decided to apply for admission to the art school in February and began working on her portfolio with guidance from MGCCC art instructor Marc Poole.

“She picked my brain about portfolio improvement, and has been in the studio every day improving or re-doing her work,” Poole said. “We set up a photo studio and shot her work two weeks ago, and made sure everything was ready to go. She submitted her portfolio to the Memphis College of Art and three days later, they offered her the scholarship.”

Rhea, from Vancleave, will begin classes at Memphis in Fall 2014 and plans to focus on animation, graphic design and illustration. “I am interested in perhaps working for the gaming industry, designing video games, doing two dimension and character concept art. This scholarship allows me to attend a recognized and respected art institute where I can get the training needed for it. I’m very excited.”

Edgar, a freshman from Ocean Springs, decided to enter his artwork on the advice of his art instructor. “I really did not think I had a chance to win but Mr. Poole told me that you have to be willing to put yourself out there to be recognized in the art world,” Edgar said. “It is thrilling to have your work chosen over the many wonderful pieces submitted. It’s a real ego boost, especially because I was very nervous about doing it.”

A military veteran, Edgar’s torn paper collage is entitled “Self-Portrait” and represents his time in the U.S. Army. “The military was a huge part of my life, and still means a lot to me,” he said. “I wanted to do something to reflect that.”