At the annual Class Day ceremony held on May 27 in the Matthews Theatre at McCarter Theatre Center, the Lewis Center for the Arts recognized graduates who earned certificates through the Programs in Creative Writing, Dance, Theater & Music Theater, and Visual Arts, as well as degrees in the Practice of Art track in the Department of Art & Archaeology. With introductory remarks by Lewis Center Chair Judith Hamera, the ceremony reflected on four years of incredible achievements by students who demonstrated their courage, creativity, and conviction.
Our LCA Class of ’24 arrived amidst a global pandemic and departs amidst multiple global upheavals that, once again, challenge us all. Class of ’24, I hope your work in the LCA—your rigorous and generous collaborations, your pursuit of foundational questions around what it means to live a good and worthy life, your courage, and the care you extended to those with whom you shared this time—has given you multiple ways to see yourselves making positive differences in these complicated times, sustained by the conviction that you are part of a community of artist-scholars who can accompany you as you do so.
— Judith Hamera
Class Day Photos
Lewis Center for the Arts Chair Judith Hamera speaks during the 2024 Class Day celebration. Photo by Felicity Audet
Creative writing certificate program graduates pose for a photo during the 2024 Class Day celebration. Photo by Felicity Audet
Rebecca Lazier, Acting Director of the Program in Dance, speaks to the dance certificate graduates. Photo by Felicity Audet
Dance certificate program graduates pose with Rebecca Lazier, Acting Director of the Program in Dance. Photo by Felicity Audet
Jane Cox, Director of the Program in Theater & Music Theater, speaks during the 2024 Class Day celebration. Photo by Felicity Audet
Jane Cox, Director of the Program in Theater & Music Theater, poses with theater and music theater certificate program graduates. Photo by Felicity Audet
Jeff Whetstone, Director of the Program in Visual Arts, speaks during the 2024 Class Day Celebration. Photo by Felicity Audet
Visual arts certificate and Practice of Art graduates pose for a photo during the 2024 Class Day celebration. Photo by Felicity Audet
Ethan Luk accepts the Louis Sudler Prize in the Arts from Lewis Center for the Arts Chair Judith Hamera. Photo by Felicity Audet
Tanaka Dunbar Ngwara accepts the Louis Sudler Prize in the Arts from Lewis Center for the Arts Chair Judith Hamera. Photo by Felicity Audet
Ayla-Rose Kapili’ulaokekaupoku Naehu-Ramos receives the Toni Morrison Prize. Photo by Felicity Audet
Aniyah Storm Stokes accepts the Toni Morrison Prize from Lewis Center for the Arts Chair Judith Hamera. Photo by Felicity Audet
Jasmine Minerva Rivers accepts the Action Based Community Engagement Award from Lewis Center for the Arts Chair Judith Hamera. Photo by Felicity Audet
Magnolia Wilkinson receives the Action Based Community Engagement Award. Photo by Felicity Audet
The Lewis Center for the Arts celebrates graduates of the Class of 2024 who earned certificates and degrees through the Programs in Creative Writing, Dance, Theater, Music Theater, and Visual Arts. Photo by Felicity Audet
The Lewis Center for the Arts celebrates graduates of the Class of 2024 who earned certificates and degrees through the Programs in Creative Writing, Dance, Theater, Music Theater, and Visual Arts. Photo by Felicity Audet
The Lewis Center for the Arts celebrates graduates of the Class of 2024 who earned certificates and degrees through the Programs in Creative Writing, Dance, Theater & Music Theater, and Visual Arts. Photo by Felicity Audet
Each year the Lewis Center awards three top academic prizes that recognize a number of students for overall achievement in the arts. This year, Hamera announced these honors for six seniors who demonstrated excellence and proficiency in their fields, enlarged the scope of our understanding of issues of race, and embodied a commitment to push boundaries and explore unknown territory. Tanaka Dunbar Ngwara and Ethan Luk received the Louis Sudler Prize in the Arts; Aniyah Storm Stokes and Ayla-Rose Kapili’ulaokekaupoku Naehu-Ramos were honored with the Toni Morrison Prize; and Jasmine Minerva Rivers and Magnolia Wilkinson received the Action Based Community Engagement Award.
Professor of Creative Writing Ilya Kaminsky, Program in Dance Acting Director Rebecca Lazier, Program in Theater & Music Theater Director Jane Cox, and Program in Visual Arts Director Jeff Whetstone also shared remarks and announced a number of awards given to seniors for outstanding achievement in each program.
Related Links
View the 2024 Class Day Program listing all graduates and senior awards
