Left: Erica Hopson ’11 helps install the Annual Area Youth Art Exhibition as part of her internship at the LCVA. Right: Wells-Bishop intern Shelby Harmon ’11 works on decorations for the LCVA’s art booth at the Heart of Virginia Festival.
Wells-Bishop Interns Shelby Harmon and Erica Hopson What happens when two equally qualified young women apply for the same LCVA internship? Under the right circumstances, you turn a potential problem into a wonderful opportunity. “It’s a competitive internship that attracts excellent students,” said Emily Gresham, Curator of Education. “This year, we were so impressed with both candidates that we ended up offering it to both of them.” Juniors Erica Hopson ’11 and Shelby Harmon ’11 worked alongside LCVA staff members during the 2009-10 school year, adding talent and enthusiasm. Erica Hopson brought more than just her talent for photography to the LCVA; she brought her infectious spirit and her love of art. During her time at the LCVA, Erica was a key component in the success of the Art Kids program, which provides photography classes to select fourth-grade students at Prince Edward County Elementary School. Erica said, “I was given the opportunity to teach children photography and provide them with a healthy form of self-expression. That experience is something I will always hold close to me.” Erica’s exuberant personality and sense of humor quickly connected her with the students. “Erica’s warm personality was her biggest contribution to the program,” said Exhibitions Manager Alex Grabiec. “She was a joy to work with.” Erica is currently finishing her minor in Criminal Justice and will graduate in May 2011. She hopes to join the FBI as a photographer. Shelby Harmon is interested in not one, but two careers – and her internship at the LCVA provided useful experience in both. The junior is majoring in Graphic Design and Art Education, and even before her internship, she had many feathers in her cap – academic excellence, president of both Mortar Board and Longwood Ambassadors, as well as a member of the Student Advisory Board for the Cook-Cole College of Arts and Sciences. She even has her own graphic design company! Harmon brought all these skills to the LCVA, where she assisted Curator of Education Emily Gresham in preparing and planning dozens of educational programs throughout the year. Shelby said, “It was a great experience to learn how a museum works and to see just how important a role education plays in the museum setting. It was rewarding to see how well the LCVA serves the children of the area.” Shelby prepared lesson plans, created activities for children in workshops and in Kids’ Activity Rooms, helped design one of the Kids’ Activity Rooms, and more. After graduation, Shelby plans to pursue a career in graphic design before transitioning to a career in art education. Established in 2004, the Wells-Bishop Internship honors Dr. Carolyn Wells (Professor Emeritus of Biology, Department of Natural Sciences) and the memory of Barbara L. Bishop (Class of 1960, Art Department faculty, Art Department chair). The internship offers three hours of credit each semester, along with a stipend, with the goal of providing outstanding students museum experience at LCVA.
35