Huntington University students named to state art board

Freshman Paul Monroe, left, from Travis Air Force Base in California and sophomore Erin Hatfield from New Castle, Ind., will represent the university on the 2012 Art Education Association of Indiana Executive Board.

HUNTINGTON, Ind. Two Huntington University art education students were recently honored to represent the university on the 2012 Art Education Association of Indiana Executive Board. This is an honor awarded to one chapter in the state each year, and it is the first time HU has been the recipient.

Freshman Paul Monroe from Travis Air Force Base in California and sophomore Erin Hatfield from New Castle, Ind., will take part in state art education meetings and a summer retreat. In addition, they will plan the college student portion of next year's AEAI state conference in Columbus, Ind.

"I am eager and honored to be voted in as a representative to sit on the AEAI Executive Council," Monroe said. "Erin Hatfield and I both have ideas and fresh perspectives to bring to the executive council, and I'm thrilled to be a part of the process."

Four years ago, HU art education majors created a student chapter of the National Art Education Association. Founded in 1947, the NAEA is the world's largest professional art education association and a leader in educational research, policy and practice for art education.

"This year's group has worked very hard. The members will make awesome art teachers," said Barb Michel, instructor of art at HU. "I am excited that our art education majors will have a voice at the state level."

Since its creation, the HU chapter has grown in numbers, commitment to the profession and activity level. This semester alone the group hosted a booth at the Roanoke Arts Festival, attended the fall Art Education Association of Indiana conference in Indianapolis, brought in a guest speaker to share job finding skills and held regular business meetings. Many of the members also teach private art lessons to children in the Huntington area.

"It's a great time to be an art education major at HU," said chapter officer and sophomore Trevor Bortz from Clarks Mills, Pa. "The art education program is doing what it should to prepare us to be great art teachers."