Alumni Stories

Guitar students and alumni win major festivals throughout North America

During the summer of 2024, PSOA guitar students took center stage at a variety of festivals throughout the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Everywhere our students went, they found great success and brought accolades back to Milwaukee. Leonela Alejandro (BFA 2020, Music) took first prize at the Guitar Foundation of America, widely considered the biggest international guitar competition. Meanwhile, at Festival Internacional de Guitarra de Mexico, second-year master’s student Alberto Daniel Quintanilla walked away with first prize.

Art & Design student earns international sculpture award

MFA student Mich Dillon has been named a recipient of the International Sculpture Center 2024 Outstanding Student Achievement in Contemporary Sculpture Award for the piece Supporting Dreams, 2023. The award recognizes young sculptors as well as their faculty sponsors and institutions. According to Glenn Williams (Associate Professor and Area Head, Sculpture), who served as Dillon’s faculty sponsor, Dillon was one of thirteen recipients out of nearly 200 nominees across 98 schools.

Recent DVC alum wins national Silver ADDY award by the American Advertising Federation

In May, UWM celebrated its latest group of graduates moving on from academia and into their next chapter. For some graduates, it has not taken long to receive recognition that provides a valuable boost to the start of their professional careers. Recent graduate Gisselle Dominguez (BFA 2024, Design & Visual Communication) has since been recognized by the American Advertising Federation with a Silver ADDY Award in Student Packaging at their national competition for her brand campaign entitled Endiablada.

Arts scholarship honors Summerfest icon and UWM alum Bob Babisch

For nearly 50 years, music fans and spectators from around the world benefited from the work of UWM alum Bob Babisch. As Summerfest’s top talent booker from 1976 to 2022, Babisch brought names such as The Rolling Stones, Lady Gaga, and Prince to Milwaukee’s—and perhaps the world’s—biggest music festival. Now in retirement, Babisch (’74 BFA Theatre) is being honored by his former employer, Milwaukee World Festival, Inc., and his alma mater with a named scholarship to support Peck School of the Arts students. Imanol Ruiz is one of those students. As a result, Ruiz graduated debt free, allowing him to explore opportunities in his field.

Trailblazing filmmakers amplify diverse narratives at Milwaukee Illuminate Film Festival

Following a successful first installment, the biannual Milwaukee Illuminate Film Festival (miff.) returns June 14-15 at The Fitzgerald. Predominantly run and juried by graduates of the film program at the Peck School of the Arts, the festival seeks to illuminate the work of a wide range of marginalized communities. Alum Amber Rose McNeill ’23 started miff. with a desire to do something with her BFA that would be inclusive for artists and filmmakers whose work is often overlooked.

PSOA Alum Fred Kaems’ vibrant murals featured on CBS 58 

Milwaukee artist and PSOA alum Fred Kaems (BFA 2016, Art) was recently featured in CBS 58’s ongoing “Art in MKE” series that highlights the work of local artists. Kaems has become a recognizable name in the Milwaukee art scene with murals of his being commissioned throughout the city. He describes his pieces as bringing color to what he feels was previously a “pretty gray” place to be.

How alum Sarah McGinnis uses art to promote mental health awareness across the country

The next time you reach for a tissue, you might see an uplifting message and cheery artwork on the box thanks to PSOA alum, Sarah McGinnis (BFA 2013, Art: Design & Visual Communication). Work by McGinnis is showcased in Target stores nationwide as a featured artist in an ongoing collaboration between Kleenex and Self Care is for Everyone, a collective working to raise mental health awareness. For McGinnis, it’s a project that not only touches the lives of others but also reflects her own journey with mental health.

Feature film by PSOA alum gets major streaming release 

Seven Days by filmmaker Corey Kupfer (BFA 2008, Film) has received a major streaming release. A fully self-funded and produced seven-part anthology, Seven Days is Kaufer’s first feature film. A Wisconsin native, Kupfer grew up in Ozaukee County before studying film and creative writing at UWM.  “I don’t think there’s a better program in the world for cultivating a young artist’s creative voice than the Peck School of the Arts film program,” said Kupfer. 

Lecturer and alum Rich Ashworth reflects on choreographing piece for Springdances

The PSOA Department of Dance is set to present Springdances: Surfacing, an evening of original choreography by Dance faculty members and guest artist Vershawn Sanders-Ward. Among the choreographers is Dance MFA alum Rich Ashworth ’21 (Lecturer, Dance). Ashworth will be presenting a piece that incorporates tap and body percussion to celebrate the working class, conveying themes of craftsmanship and connection. Ashworth recently took the time to reflect on Surfacing and his time as a PSOA graduate student.

Milwaukee Film Festival Roundup: Alumni and Student Edition

The 2024 Milwaukee Film Festival is underway, and Peck School of the Arts has a lot to be proud of. Nineteen alumni and a current MFA candidate will have their work screened across 15 unique works, including shorts, features, and music videos. The PSOA community of artists is excited to highlight the incredible work screening at this year’s festival. Check out the impressive list of films and filmmakers with strong ties to PSOA.

PSOA alum Jeremy Novy’s urban koi fish and queer street art featured on CBS 58

UWM alum Jeremy Novy was recently featured in a comprehensive piece by CBS 58. Novy is best known as the artist behind the black, white, and orange koi fish that get painted throughout city sidewalks, starting in Milwaukee but now branching all around the world. The idea came to Novy following a study abroad trip to China that he took while studying at Peck School of the Arts.

An arts education led to unique careers for two PSOA alums recognized on “40 Under 40” list

Two Peck School of the Arts alumni were chosen for the Milwaukee Business Journal’s annual “40 Under 40” awards, which honors Milwaukee’s brightest young leaders and professionals. Both leveraged their arts education to pursue unique careers. Nathan Zimmerman ’13 is the founder and owner of ZimKnives, a business that focuses on making prestige precision knives, swords and other metal tools and implements. Meagan Johnson ’09 is the founder and executive director of Milwaukee Diaper Mission.

ArtsECO alum who uses art to make a difference in her community receives national award

Jeanette Arellano, an alum of UWM’s ArtsECO program, uses art in her classroom to make a difference in the Milwaukee community.  Recently, the National Education Association award Arellano with their César Chávez Acción y Compromiso Human and Civil Rights Award. The award acknowledges her for embodying the spirit of César Chávez and making “noble contributions to the labor movement through commitment, action, negotiation, and art.” 

Film alumni debut new festival to increase diversity in Milwaukee cinema  

The world of independent film in Milwaukee is expanding with the Milwaukee Illuminate Film Festival, a new event spearheaded by festival director and Peck School graduate Amber McNeill (BFA 2023, Film). McNeill, who is also lead programmer, is joined by fellow PSOA alum Zoe Lufman (BFA 2023, Film), who serves as operations manager and programmer. McNeill and Lufman met at UWM during their senior-year film course and immediately embraced their commonalities.