Outstanding Student Awards 2025, Part 4 (of 4)
August 15, 2025
The winners of SDA’s Outstanding Student Awards were recently announced for the students who have demonstrated excellence in fiber arts. The work of these artists embodied inventive and innovative use of technique, materials and concepts not only in fibers and textiles, but in printmaking, sculpture, and more. It is an honor for the Education Committee to be able to see student work, review it, and learn more about the personal and societal issues they are tackling through their work. We will be spotlighting our Outstanding Student Award Winners throughout July and August. Be sure to follow them and support their practices. Congratulations to all 53 awardees!
Emiko Kuhs (he/him), A God I Can Handle, 2025. Appliquéd cotton with batting and polyester thread, 31 x 37 inches. Photo by the artist. Undergraduate, Georgia State University. @Emiko.444
Lasya Aji Silpa (she/her), Chess: A game of Strategy, 2025. Lasercut outdoor fabric and jute, US Dress Size 8. Photo by the artist. Graduate, University of North Texas. lasyasilpa.myportfolio.com | @las.silpa
Anis Beigzadeh (she/her), Honor, 2025. Wheel thrown and hand-built ceramic with and handwoven fiber, basketry, Persian luster and nails, 56 x 28 x 28 inches. Photo by the artist. Graduate, Umass Dartmouth. anisbeigzadeh.com | @anis.beigzadeh
Jordan Paguirigan (he/him), Fresh off the Boat, 2024. Handwoven cotton textile, 12 x 36 inches. Photo by the artist. Undergraduate, University of Hawaiʻi Mānoa. jordanmichaelpaguirigan.com | @ohsnapitzj0rdan
Robyn Rozelle (she/her), What Worlds Did She Dream?, 2024. Quilted, screenprinted and photograph on fabric, 38 x 38 inches. Photo by the artist. Graduate, University of North Texas. @raabynraazelle
Hannah Kregel (they/them), Soft Hide of My Animal, 2024. Quilted deer hide and found crochet textile, 30 x 48 inches. Photo: Maggie Foster. Undergraduate, Georgia State University. @divine.delirium
Mason Brown (they/them), Plenitude, 2025. Printmaking, 72 x 96 inches. Photo by the artist. Undergraduate, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. @poeticassemblage
Merryn Omotayo Alaka (she/her), To hold, to bear, to witness, 2025. Sewn and quilted vinyl, cowrie shells, beauty supply store earrings and hair, 8 x 8 feet. Photo: Mikey Mosher. Graduate, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. merrynalaka.com | @merrynalaka
Katie Gorman (they/them), Wishing I Was Here, 2024. Machine rug-tufted, foam carved, wet- and needle- felted acrylic yarn, wool roving and upholstery foam, 5.5 x 3 x 1.5 feet. Photo by the artist. Undergraduate, Massachusetts College of Art and Design. @katie._.is._.cool
Delia Ngata (she/her), Lolotonga ‘Etau Tatali – While We Wait, 2022. Printmaking, garment construction and digitally etched silk habotai and cotton canvas, 59 x 157 inches. Photo: Emily Parr. Graduate, Auckland University of Technology.
Fiona Fan (she/her), Sculpted Body, 2024. Double bed knitting machine seric bonded nylon and elastomeric, 15 x 25 x 10 inches. Photo: Gavin Jin. Undergraduate, Rhode Island School of Design. behance.net/fiona0927fan | @fiona0927fan
Candace Betts (she/her), Joys of Play, 2025. Jacquard woven, acid dyed and dye-sublimation printed cotton, silk and polyester yarn with polyurethane coating, 36 x 24 inches. Photo by the artist. Undergraduate, Thomas Jefferson University. cmb127.myportfolio.com | @cans.textile
Carolina Obregon (she/her), Canopy, 2025. Woven and hand-dyed organic cotton, 18 x 230 inches. Photo by the artist. Undergraduate, Savannah College of Art and Design. carolinaobregonstudio.com | @carolinaobregonstudio
For more information check out the Grants & Outstanding Student Awards page.
