Fine Arts & Communication
Student Awards & Recognition 2025
An Annual Tradition
For more than thirty years, with generous support from Bruce Swenson, former president of the FHDA Board of Trustees, the Fine Arts and Communication Awards have brought together students, faculty, staff, and administrators from the division’s programs to celebrate our shared creativity, courage, and commitment as a learning community.
Instead of being based solely on grades or tests, these awards celebrate the words, wisdom, and actions of students — all of whom have overcome enormous obstacles to achieve success in college and have reached out to assist and inspire others to succeed and thrive as well. The students recognized on this page received this award because their professors carefully selected them for praise and acknowledgment.
Congratulations!
Introducing Our 2025 Student Awards
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It is the privilege of the Fine Arts & Communication Division to honor the following
students listed below. We invite you to view our slide presentation from our June 13, 2025 ceremony recognizing these students. Each student receiving an award should feel tremendously proud. The department faculty members are truly inspired by each and every one of the students selected. |
Student Recognition by Department
Fine Arts & Communication Special Division Awards and Scholarships
Thanks to the generosity of donors who are committed to honoring our students, we are proud to announce recipients of the following special scholarships.
Scholarship Criteria: Recipients were nominated by the faculty in the division and selected by a committee of division representatives.
Special Division Awards
Congratulations!
to our two recipients of this year’s
Special Division Awards
RYANN MEJIA GONZALES
nominated by
ANJU VRIKSHA
AHMED KHATTAB
nominated by
HILARY GOMES
Theatre Technology Award
Congratulations!
to our two recipients of this year’s
Theatre Technology Award
MARIA JOSE ALVAREZ
nominated by
LEIGH HENDERSON
ALVINA XU
nominated by
LEIGH HENDERSON
Annette Pearlstein Scholarship Award ($500)
Congratulations!
to our three recipients of this year’s
Annette Pearlstein Award
ANA SALDARRIAGA-CALDERON
nominated by
JUDY WALGREN
FRANK TANG
nominated by
HILARY GOMES
ANNABELLA SAKUNKOO
nominated by
ROBERT HARTWELL
About the Scholarship
This award is for a current student who has shown promise in any area of Fine Arts in honor of Annette Pearlstein, a lover of all things cultural in life.
John Thacker Scholarship Award ($500)
Congratulations!
to our recipient of this year’s
John Thacker Award
RODRIO VALLE HERNANDEZ
nominated by
JUDY WALGREN
About the Scholarship
In memory of John Thacker, a Foothill student, this award is for a current student
who has taken at least one photography class in the present academic year, demonstrates
a genuine love for photography and has developed his/her own expressive style.
John Thacker graduated with an Electrical Engineering degree from Cornell University
and received a PhD in Applied Mathematics from Brown University. A lifelong learner,
John came to Foothill and received an Associate degree in Digital Imaging in 2011.
He had a passion for photography and loved hiking and going to national parks where
he captured many amazing photos. John passed in late 2018 and will be remembered for
his calm wisdom, sense of humor and commitment to family as well as his contributions
to the Foothill College Photography Community.
Past Award Celebrations
Questions?
We're Here to Help!
Sheherazade Arasnia, Fine Arts & Communication Division
650.949.7262
Bldg. 1700, Room 1701