As the semester drew to a close, the University of North Georgia (UNG) Department of Visual Arts looked to the future fall semester by awarding several students scholarships to continue their education.

Scholarships and other awards were handed out to students on UNG's Gainesville and Oconee campuses April 25.

Students on the Gainesville Campus receiving the 2018 Outstanding Achievement in Art Scholarship were Lauren Bradshaw, Hannah Tolbert, Alejandro Imperial, Vanessa Estrada, Elizabeth Casper, Jenya Rector, Ryan Williams, Cayla Hall, and Susan Compton. Bradshaw, Tolbert, Imperial, Estrada, Casper, Rector, and Williams earned $1,000 each while Hall and Compton received $500 each.

Receiving the Student Choice Award on the Gainesville Campus was Alejandro Imperial. Students visiting the gallery voted for his work, which also will be featured on "thank you" cards for the Visual Arts department.

The Oconee Campus student earning the Outstanding Achievement in Art Scholarship and the

Student Choice award was Valerie Laplaca. She received a $500 scholarship and will have her artwork featured on "thank you" cards, too.

The Faculty Choice award winners on the Oconee Campus were Caroline Frye, Vanessa Garcia, Emily Booth, Erica Carillo, Rowan Bird, Corinne Bowers, and Jenna McLoughlin. They received certificates for their work.

The Roy C. Moore Award for the best portfolio review, who are Hall County residents, were Emily Jones and Kayla Williams. They received certificates for their work and $1,000 each.

"The overall caliber of the work this year was very high," said Erin McIntosh, assistant professor of Visual Arts at UNG. "Each year, we have noticed an increase in the quality of the student work."