National Student Show 2026 Awards Over $13,000 in Prizes

The 2026 National Student Show and Conference, centered around the theme 'Connections,' was held in Dallas, attracting over 200 participants, including visual communications students, educators, and industry professionals. Over the course of three days, attendees from more than 25 college programs explored nine studios, received portfolio critiques from 30 local experts, and listened to four keynote addresses. The competition showcased 351 entries in categories such as design, advertising, UX, illustration, photography, and portfolios. Jurors from Dallas—Chase Kahn, Matt Johnson, Andria Kushan, Manny Rodriguez, and Hosna Quraishi—selected 98 pieces for display and distributed 31 awards totaling over $13,000. The University of Kansas earned the title of 'Best School,' while Anniella Pettingill from Pratt Institute received Best of Show for her senior portfolio. Other notable winners included Wes Kemnitzer (University of Kansas) for Best of Senior Portfolios—Gold, Rebecca Dugan (University of North Texas) for Silver, and Adrian Buckner (University of Kansas) for Bronze. This event, now in its 22nd year, is organized by the DSVC Foundation, a non-profit that promotes visual arts scholarships.