COMMENCEMENT 2021 RINGLING COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN “WE HAVE BECOME A CIRCLE OF LIGHT IN A TIME OF DARKNESS RELENTLESSLY SHINING ONTO THE WORLD.” PAULA RODRIGUEZ RAMIREZ, CLASS OF 2021 ABOUT RINGLING COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN MAJORS OUR STUDENT BODY Since 1931, Ringling College of Art and Design has cultivated the creative spirit BUSINESS OF ART + DESIGN (BA) Currently, 1,627 degree-seeking students are enrolled at Ringling College, and in students from around the globe. The private, not-for-profit, fully accredited 98% are full-time. College offers the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in twelve disciplines and the COMPUTER ANIMATION (BFA) There is no such thing as a typical Ringling College student. Our student body is Bachelor of Arts in two. The College’s rigorous curriculum employs the studio comprised of emerging artists and designers from 48 countries and all across model of teaching and immediately engages students through a comprehensive CREATIVE WRITING (BFA) the United States. At Ringling College, we welcome international dialogue program that is both specific to the major of study and focused on the liberal and foster respect and inclusion because inspiration and creativity do not arts. The Ringling College teaching model ultimately shapes students into highly ENTERTAINMENT DESIGN (BFA) thrive in a vacuum—the best artists and designers inspire and engage with the employable and globally aware artists and designers. Enrolled first class, Fall 2019 global community. FILM (BFA) This year’s graduating class hails from 29 U.S. states, Northern Marianas, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and 18 countries around the globe: FINE ARTS (BFA) GAME ART (BFA) ARMENIA HONG KONG RUSSIA BRAZIL INDIA SOUTH KOREA GRAPHIC DESIGN (BFA) CHINA JAPAN SWAZILAND ILLUSTRATION (BFA) COLOMBIA MALAYSIA THAILAND FRANCE PAKISTAN TURKEY INTERIOR DESIGN (BFA) GUATEMALA PORTUGAL VENEZUELA MOTION DESIGN (BFA) PHOTOGRAPHY + IMAGING (BFA) VIRTUAL REALITY DEVELOPMENT (BFA) Enrolled first class, Fall 2018 VISUAL STUDIES (BA) #RINGLINGGRADS #RINGLINGCOLLEGE 2020–21 STUDENT, ALUMNI, AND COLLEGE RECOGNITIONS Ringling College students, alumni, faculty, and staff are win- Film ranked Top 25 Film School in the U.S. by The Hollywood Graphic Design students win 16 Silver Awards, 6 Gold Motion Design students take home 1 National Gold ADDY ning industry awards and earning recognition in their creative Reporter Awards, and 1 Judges’ Choice awards at 2021 ADDY Awards Award, 2 Motion Awards from Motionographer, and 1 Promax fields. Take a look at some of the honors we have received in Student Spark Award the last year alone! The Rookies ranked Game Art #1 in the U.S. and #3 in the world Creative Writing student has game reviews published by for Game Design DBLTAP, Esports insider platform Photography and Imaging junior selected by Creative Quarterly Computer Animation named #1 Animation school in the as Top 25 Photographers/Top 100 Artists of 2020 world by Animation Career Review 30 Illustration students won 37 awards from The Society of Fine Arts alumnus named as a 2021-22 Fulbright Semi-Finalist Illustrators Computer Animation student wins Emmy at 40th College Motion Design students took home 16 Silver Awards, 6 Gold Two Game Art seniors place third for Best Visual Quality in Television Awards for Animation Awards, and 1 Judges’ Choice 2021 ADDY Awards Ringling College named #1 Graphic Design School in Florida 2020 Game Developers Conference run by Intel University by Animation Career Review and Top Design School by GDUSA Marketing and Communications won 1 Silver Telly Award, 1 Graphic Design students win 2020 National Gold ADDY Graphic Design student wins the 2020 Ad Student, Student CASE Award, and took home 6 Educational Digital Marketing Two Computer Animation students won a 2020 Student Aca- of the Year Scholarship Awards Third-year Creative Writing student has short story featured demy Award (Silver)—the 16th for the major since 1998 in The New York Times Film student wins 2 Gold Awards and Best in Show for Bran- Ringling College Design Center won 2 CASE Circle of Excel- Wet Dog Corp. SXSW Brand Activation event wins Gold ADDY ded Entertainment film at 2021 ADDY Awards lence Awards, 16 Silver Awards, 6 Gold Awards, and 1 The Rookies ranked Ringling College #4 in the world for Judges’ Choice ADDY Awards, and 6 GDUSA Awards Creative Media and Entertainment Schools The Rookies ranked Motion Design #2 for Best 3D Motion Computer Animation student wins Rookie of the Year Graphics Schools in the world Ringling College ART Network students win a Telly Award 19 Computer Animation alumni worked on Soul, which won Graphic Design student featured in the Communication Arts the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture - Animated Entertainment Design hosted legendary Disney Imagineer, Student Showcase 2020 Joe Rohde on campus OUR GROWING INSTITUTION ALUMNI BENEFITS & SERVICES MISSION Staying at the forefront of creativity is integral to the mission As a Ringling College graduate, no matter where you are in Ringling College of Art and Design recognizes that artists and designers play a significant of Ringling College—to provide programs leading to degrees your career, we are here to help. The Ringling College Center role in society. The College’s primary mission is to provide programs leading to degrees that that prepare students to be discerning visual thinkers and for Career Services offers career counseling free to all Ringling prepare students to be discerning visual thinkers and ethical practitioners in their chosen area ethical practitioners in their chosen areas of art and design. College students and graduates. Throughout your creative of art and design. We are proud and excited as we push forward new initiatives career, we are dedicated to connecting you with the right and programs that will not only maintain, but also enhance networks, providing assistance with your job search, offering Visual arts professionals must understand diverse aspects of past and present cultures, the excellence of our institution. extensive interview and resume preparation, and landing you and develop their capacity for creative expression and effective communication. Ringling’s work in your field of interest. curriculum, therefore, balances the teaching of technical knowledge and skills with the development of critical, conceptual, and creative abilities and supports courses that NEW RESIDENCE HALL You will also enjoy lifetime check-out privileges at the Alfred R. provide historical, multicultural, global, and future perspectives. Ringling faculty consists of We opened Greensboro Hall, a new 269-bed residence hall Goldstein Library and access to the Ringling College Madeby professionally active and teaching-oriented artists, designers, and scholars. for first- and second-year students in Fall 2020. Gallery. We encourage you to stay in touch and participate in student workshops and events on campus. We hope to see Ringling College of Art and Design strives to enroll both full- and part-time students from you around! diverse backgrounds who intend to become professionals in the visual arts. Through its RINGLING COLLEGE MUSEUM CAMPUS policies and practices, the College supports excellence in teaching and fosters the aesthetic, Serving as the community-centric part of campus, the CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2021! intellectual, professional, personal, and social development of its students. Academic Ringling College Museum Campus houses the Sarasota Art programs and advising, career services, and an extensive co-curricular student life program Museum of Ringling College and Ringling College Continuing prepare students for an art or design profession, or when appropriate, for continued studies at Studies, which includes the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute the graduate level. (OLLI) at Ringling College and the non-credit Studio and Digital Arts program. In addition to its degree programs, Ringling College offers courses, lectures, exhibitions, and other art-related services to the local and regional community through its galleries, library, continuing education, and community service programs. CUNNIFFE COMMONS Planning is well underway for a new state-of-the-art dining Through the efforts of its Board of Trustees, administrators, faculty, support staff, alumni, facility anticipated to open Fall 2022. and friends, Ringling College endeavors to provide the necessary resources, services, and environment to fulfill its institutional mission. Founded in 1931, Ringling College of Art and Design is a private, independent, non-profit, four-year college. Adopted By The Board Of Trustees, April 11, 1991 Revision Adopted By The Board Of Trustees, October 24, 2002 Revision Adopted By The Board Of Trustees, April 12, 2007 Reaffirmed By The Board Of Trustees, February 12, 2015 CHARGE TO GRADUATES DR. LARRY R. THOMPSON Members of the Classes of 2021 and 2020: Remember that as you travel along your future path, Ringling College is, and always will be, a part of you. The community you found at Ringling College will help sustain you through You have the distinction of completing your journey at Ringling College of Art and Design amidst whatever you encounter. I encourage you to stay connected to that community, to lean into it in an unimaginable global challenge. Admittedly, the decisions forced upon us by this worldwide hard times, and to rejoice with it in times of triumph. pandemic have been heartbreaking for us at Ringling College and for the world. They changed every aspect of the way you have had to deal with the final portion of your Ringling College Please stay engaged with Ringling College. I urge you to share your successes with us so experience in ways that none of us could have ever foreseen and that none of us wanted. that we may join you in celebration. Your experiences and achievements are so inspirational to the students who will come after you, just as the lives and careers of your favorite artists Despite your disappointment and despite the hurdles put before you, you inspired all of us here and designers have inspired you.