Priscilla Hopper media manager
“The first thing that went through my head was literally nothing.”
This is what senior Christine Kim said after receiving her acceptance letter to the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), in which she earned a $4,000 scholarship (or a $12,000 scholarship if she chooses to attend SCAD). Not only did Kim win a scholarship, but she also won first place in the Congressional Art Competition for her photo “Who’s Manns?”, which is to be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol as apart of an exhibit. Additionally, Kim received a trip to Washington D.C. to be recognized at an annual awards ceremony.
“I was in such shock. I didn’t know how to react. Once the shock was over, I was very happy and it felt like all my hard work had finally paid off,” she said.
Her attraction to photography started in eighth grade on Instagram when she and a group of friends would travel to downtown LA, West Hollywood or around Beverly Hills to find something that complimented their “aesthetic.” While shooting coffee and unique buildings was her guide to the camera, Kim explored new types of photography once joining photography teacher Tim Briggs’ class in her freshman year.
“Christine has matured in her vision and ability. She has mastered a lot of disciplines necessary to create work at this level,” Briggs said.
Kim refined her creative ability through the personal connection she developed with Briggs’ teachings. From film to photoshop, Briggs’ guidance brought life to Kim’s vision.
“A little history: this picture was shot on film, printed in the darkroom, scanned, edited in Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop then printed on Lustre paper on our digital printer,” Briggs said. “She absolutely deserved this award.”
While she will be attending Santa Monica College in the fall, Kim is hopeful that this win will open up doors for opportunities in the future.
“My family is so beyond thrilled that I won this competition. It’s the first time in our family that we were able to win something this recognizable,” Kim said. “It shows that my hard work paid off, and I can be true to my work and myself and still be able to win.”