KU News Release

KU senior wins KC AIGA chapter scholarship for graphic designers

A book cover design by Laura Rottinghaus that was part of her winning portfolio

LAWRENCE - A University of Kansas fine arts senior has received a scholarship worth $1,000 from the Kansas City chapter of the American Institute for Graphic Arts, the professional association for design.

Laura A. Rottinghaus, a Baileyville senior majoring in art and design at KU, received the 2007 AIGA Kansas City scholarship designed to foster young talent into design leaders. The scholarship may be used toward tuition, books, hardware or software, or other educational expenses.

To compete for the scholarship, students must be members of a Kansas City AIGA student group and be recommended by faculty members in addition to submitting an application that includes their grade point average, their portfolio and letters describing their career goals.

The Kansas City AIGA chapter offered the scholarship for the first time last fall and the first recipient was also a KU design senior, Julie Vinh. Seven universities and schools in Missouri and Kansas are affiliated with the Kansas City AIGA chapter. Christine Taylor, president of AIGA Kansas City, said AIGA KC board members who are currently associated with a school or university, are not eligible to juror the scholarship to keep things fair and unbiased.

Rottinghaus will be honored at the Kansas City AIGA fourth annual Design Competition Awards Show in January 2008.

She is the daughter of Bob and Annette Rottinghaus of Baileyville and is a graduate of B&B High School in Baileyville. She plans to work in design in the greater Kansas City area after graduation.

At KU Rottinghaus is an officer in the Prototype club, an AIGA student group and is serving this semester on the staff of kiosk, an art and literature magazine published once a semester at KU. This spring, Rottinghaus also received awards in the Kansas City AIGA third annual design show.

For two KU students to receive the first scholarships, Rottinghaus said, “I think it says a lot about the design program and teachers we have at KU.”

“We are very pleased that Laura has received the AIGA student scholarship,” said Patrick Dooley, professor of design at KU. “Only one student per year in the KC metro area receives this award from the American Institute of Graphic Arts, the largest and most recognized of graphic arts professional organizations, and we cannot think of a more deserving student for this prestigious award. In and out of the classroom, Laura has set herself apart from the many other talented student designers in the KC metro area through her creativity and hard work.”

Chairman of the Department of Design Greg Thomas added, “We are pleased Laura has received recognition for her hard work. Acknowledgement of Laura's skills illustrates to the professional and academic communities that KU is the place for serious design study.”

For more information, contact the Department of Design in KU's School of Fine Arts at 785-864-4401.

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