Student creativity celebrates Camosun's 50th anniversary

Released: April 29, 2021 | Last Updated: November 24, 2021

Communications Office  |  News release Community

50th Anniversary Student Creativity Contest winners: Chloe Jess for her song "I don't really know"; Jimmy Chhor for his poem "faces"; Erica Potvin for her painting "Teachings of Past, Present and Future."

VICTORIA, B.C. – When Camosun College invited students to get creative and help commemorate its 50th anniversary celebrations this year, the resulting entries showed off the depth and breadth of talent.

“The creativity, passion and talent of students at Camosun never ceases to amaze me,” explains Sherri Bell, President of Camosun. “We wanted to engage with students from all programs and courses and encourage them to show us what the 50th anniversary theme ‘Honouring the Past, Inspiring the Future’ means to them. The result was incredible!”

The contest launched in January 2021 and closed in mid April with a total of 56 submissions. Submissions had to be original pieces created entirely by the students themselves.

Students could submit one piece in one or each of three category areas:

• 2D or 3D Artwork;
• Written Word;
• Audio Art.

After whittling entries down to a final list, the judging panel made up of President Bell, Board Chair Monty Bryant and Student Society External Executive Quinn Cunningham, selected three winning entries. Criteria was based on best adherence to the 50th anniversary theme, overall creativity and technical accomplishment.

“Thank you to everyone who submitted their creative work,” says Bryant. “We certainly have a lot of talent and creative perspectives on campus. It was difficult to choose, but we are very pleased to announce three extraordinary students have now been selected to receive awards for their outstanding creativity in each of the three categories.”

Congratulations to: office administration student Erica Potvin in the category of 2D/3D Artwork, for her original painting ‘Teachings of Past, Present and Future’; business student Jimmy Chhor in the category of Written Word, for his original poem “faces;” and, automotive student Chloe Jess, in the category of Audio Art for her original song and performance “I don’t really know”.

Each contest winner will receive an award of $1,000.

“We had an incredible array of artwork to choose from,” says Cunningham. “I value all of the thought, time, and effort all of the contestants put into their outstanding artwork. Contests such as this inspire me to reflect on the impact of our unique educational experiences as students here at Camosun.”

“Life experiences of any, and all kind, shape us into who we are, at this very moment,” says student Chloe Jess. “This contest has given me the opportunity to share a raw and honest version of who I am  today, because of those experiences. I am very grateful, and feel elated, to have my original composition chosen, and thought of in such high regard.”

Camosun, located in beautiful Victoria, British Columbia with campuses on the Traditional Territories of the Lekwungen and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples, is one of the largest colleges in the province.  Established in 1971, Camosun now celebrates 50 years of delivering innovative, life-changing academic and applied programs to 20,000 students annually.

View the winning entries

50.camosun.ca