Perpich Students Shine at Portfolio Day 2024

Media Arts and Visual Arts students showed their work to college experts and admissions professionals. Here, students show their work to admissions professionals from School of Visual Arts in New York City.

October 14, 2024

On Monday, October 14, students at Perpich Arts High School participated in Portfolio Day, celebrating college and career readiness. For over 25 years each October, Perpich sponsors a Portfolio Day, offered in conjunction with a national portfolio day at Minneapolis College of Art and Design. Representatives from some of the most selective art schools in the country come to campus to review student portfolios.

This year, 22 institutions were on campus to connect with Perpich students. One of the event organizers, George Terry Jr., Assistant Principal, said, “Portfolio Day is a unique opportunity for our students to explore post-secondary options and have their work reviewed by some of the nation’s most prestigious art schools. Students come away from Portfolio Day with a sense of confidence because they know their work and talent are enough to take them to the next level of their education.”

Another event organizer, Kathryn D’Elia, Visual Arts Instructor and Studio Arts Chair, said, “Portfolio Day this year was exciting, overwhelming, informative, and as always, incredibly valuable for the students and teachers. We had several schools come in to explain the features of their programs, so each student could hear up to six presentations from various schools in the morning of portfolio day. In the afternoon, representatives from the schools reviewed portfolios for Visual Arts and Media students to point out strengths and areas for growth in their portfolios. Some students firmly learned which schools are their first choice for applying, while all practiced interview skills and presenting their work and asking questions. We are so lucky that these schools make Perpich a priority each year.”

jess pretty, Assistant Professor of Dance at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, taught a guest class in social dance with our Perpich dance students.

Rebecca Bullen, Principal, said, “We know our students are awesome, and it is great to have others on campus who get to experience their hard work and creative talents. In connecting with some of the reps on Monday, several shared how much they enjoy being at Perpich, meeting the students, and seeing their art and discussing the future, whatever that may be.”

Media Arts and Visual Arts students showed their work to college experts and admissions professionals. They learned about what those colleges have to offer and if they are a good fit as a prospective student. The experts also offered some constructive criticism. Overall, participating colleges gave Perpich students high praise.

Tami Johnson, M.A., Ed.S., spoke with Theater and Musical Theater students about the “American Dream” from the Indigenous perspective.

Dance students were able to hear from Nora Jenneman, Director of Undergraduate Studies for Dance at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, in both the morning and afternoon. Nora gave an overview of the University of Minnesota Dance program including details on auditions, applications, curriculum, performance opportunities, and more. In the afternoon, jess pretty, Assistant Professor of Dance at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, taught a guest class in social dance with our Perpich Dance students.

Theater and Musical Theater students started the afternoon with Julianne Mundale, Owner/Creative Director of Sol Creative Performing Arts Studio. Mundale ran a dance audition workshop with the students. Then, Tami Johnson, M.A., Ed.S., spoke with the students about the “American Dream” from the Indigenous perspective. Perpich Theater and Musical Theater students are exploring the theme of the “American Dream” this fall. Tami is currently a school counselor with St. Paul Harding High School’s American Indian Studies program. She’s done trainings on the impact of boarding schools, cognitive behavioral techniques for school groups, mindfulness, and mental health.