The public viewing art in a gallery

Art lovers once again will have the opportunity to view the works of outstanding graduating seniors in Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s School of Arts and Design program with the annual Rickert-Ziebold Trust Award exhibition, April 17-22. Six students are finalists in this year’s competition. (Photo provided)

March 06, 2023

SIU’s 2023 Rickert-Ziebold Trust Award competition features six finalists

by Pete Rosenbery

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Six graduating seniors in Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s School of Art and Design program are preparing to compete for the university’s most prestigious art prize — the Rickert-Ziebold Trust Award.

The finalists were announced on March 2 and come from a variety of disciplines, including metalsmithing, art education and painting.

The exhibition is from April 17 through April 22 in the SIU Surplus Gallery, 432 S. Washington St., Carbondale. Winners will be announced at 3:30 p.m. April 17, with a reception and awards presentation from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. April 21, also in the Surplus Gallery.


Media Advisory 

Reporters, photographers and news crews are welcome to cover the 2023 Rickert-Ziebold Trust Award reception and award presentation on April 21 at the SIU Surplus Gallery. The reception is set for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., with the award presentation at 6:30 p.m. For more information, contact Sun Kim at sunkim@siu.edu or the Surplus Gallery at 618-453-7548 or sgallery@siu.edu


Each year, seniors in the School of Art and Design, part of the College of Arts and Media, graduating from the fall semester to the end of the summer term are encouraged by faculty to apply for the competition displaying their knowledge gained throughout the years at SIU.

Sun Kyoung Kim, chair of the Rickert-Ziebold committee and associate professor of metals and jewelry, noted that in many cases this can be the students’ first experience with peer competition.

“I’m so proud of School of Art and Design seniors,” said Kim. “I was so happy to see all their hard work and talents shine in their portfolios while judging. I am sure this year’s finalists exhibition will be another spectacular one.”

Award finalists

The six award finalists are:

  • Arthur Gibson, blacksmithing, Cape Coral, Florida.
  • Ethan Hansen, metalsmithing, Salida, Colorado.
  • Hannah Holste, communication design, Freeport, Illinois.
  • Emma Metz, painting, Makanda, Illinois.
  • Cole Schnaudigel, art education, Arlington Heights, Illinois.
  • Lacie Schneider, art education, Waterloo, Illinois.

Longtime award

The purpose of the trust is to promote excellence in visual arts. The award was established nearly 50 years ago by the Rickert family in honor of the late Joseph Rickert, an attorney and former state senator from Waterloo, to encourage young artists.

Gallery hours

The exhibition, which is open to the public, will be open in the Surplus Gallery from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 17-21 and 10 a.m. to noon April 22.

For more information, contact Sun Kim at sunkim@siu.edu or the Surplus Gallery at 618-453-7548 or sgallery@siu.edu.