The Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts at Washington University in St. Louis celebrated seven honorees April 20 as part of the school’s 2023 Awards for Distinction ceremony.
The Dean’s Medal for outstanding service was presented to the Kemper family. Longstanding patrons of the arts, education and museums, the family has supported WashU for generations. David Kemper is a longtime trustee and current vice chair of the board. His sister Julie and their late father, James, have supported a range of visual arts programs. The university’s Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum is named for David and Julie’s mother.
“Art museums and particularly university art museums are such a great way to bring people together and bring new ideas forward,” David said. Julie agreed, noting how “university art museums can raise the bar, they can explore topics that may not be popular at public museums, with an assurance of scholarly integrity.”
Also recognized during the ceremony were six outstanding Sam Fox School alumni:
- Karin Soukup Fyhrie, BFA ‘02
- Mara MacMahon, AB/BFA ’12
- Gullivar Shepard, AB ’93
- Aaron Williams, AB ’08
Recent Alumni Award
- Pierre-Henri Hoppenot, AB ’09; MArch ’12
- Yvonne Osei, MFA ’16
The Sam Fox School Awards for Distinction recognize alumni, friends and leaders in their fields for professional achievement in architecture, art and design and/or for service to their profession, the community or the Sam Fox School and Washington University. For more information about the awards, visit samfoxschool.wustl.edu.
